collective nouns' verbs

[Hanifasmm]

Hi everybody,
Please correct my answers for the below questions.
Find correct verb for the following collective nouns:
1. The government are/is entitled to collect taxes.
2. A big colony of ants lives/live under the front porch.
3. The jury were/was arguing about the importance of evidence.
4. Our school band play/plays many lively marches.
5. The committee is/are handing in their ballots.
6. A whole company of soldiers is/are marching in the parade.
7. That troupe of actors always stay/stays at the Grand Hotel.
8. A gaggle of geese is/are running every which way in the barnyard
9. A whole company of soldiers is/are marching in the parade.
Answers: 1 - is, 2 - live, 3 - were, 4 - plays,
5 - are, 6- is, 7 - stays, 8 - is, 9 - is.
Please confirm if both singular and plural verbs can be used.
Thanks.
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

[Alan]

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Hi,

This has been a regular question on the forum for some time and continues to be so. I have suggested in the past and will suggest again that the best way to look at the relationship between collective nouns and verbs is to ask yourself whether you consider the 'collective' group is one entity or a number of people or things. If you believe it is a separate entity, use a singular verb. If not, use a plural verb.

Alan
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You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/run