 Collective nouns Some nouns can be used with either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the speaker is referring to them as a group or individually. Examples of collective nouns are group, family, committee, team, management. The committee has not made a decision yet. The committee will submit one conclusion as a group. The committee have not made a decision yet. They are still debating among themselves. The team is posing for a photograph. As a group. The team are signing autographs. As individuals. Be careful when using collective nouns with pronouns. The Jones family is having a reunion this Sunday. It meets every summer. The Jones family are going home on Monday. They all live in different states.