You hear a British friend say "My family are coming round on Sunday" and think it is a mistake, because your grammar book says family is one thing, so it needs is. But it is not a mistake. In British English, a group word can take a plural verb when you think of the people in it. In this episode: • What is a collective noun? • Plural verb: thinking of the people • Singular verb: the group as one unit • Matching pronouns, and people • Dialogue: sunday plans • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: family — the people you live with or are related to team — players or workers who work together staff — all the people who work in one place class — a group of pupils who learn together crew — a group working together, for example builders or a film crew band — a group of musicians school — the pupils and teachers together My family are coming round on Sunday. — my parents, my sister, my nan The team are playing really well. — the players, each of them The staff are lovely at that café. — the people who work there The class are going on a trip on Friday. — all the children The band are on tour this summer. — the musicians My family are all tall. — each person is tall The team is top of the league. — the team as one unit in a table My family is quite small. — the size of the whole group The class is in Room 4. — one class, one room Which school is it? — one school The team are happy with their result. — their, not its People are lovely round here. — the people in this area People say it's going to snow. — many people say so Real British English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — modern British accent, everyday grammar, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang, he/she/it for things, and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.