Is it 'a group of people is' or 'a group of people are'?

Both can be correct. Use 'is' when viewing the group as one unit. Use 'are' when emphasizing the individuals within the group. In American English, 'is' is more common. In British English, 'are' is often preferred.

Do collective nouns take singular or plural verbs?

Collective nouns like 'group,' 'team,' or 'family' can take either singular or plural verbs depending on meaning and regional preferences. American English tends to use singular verbs; British English often uses plural verbs.

A Group of People Is or Are? US and UK Usage Explained

Quick Answer

Both can be correct!

Use "is" when treating the group as a single unit.
Use "are" when focusing on the individuals within the group.

Explanation

"Group" is a collective noun-a word that refers to multiple people or things as a single unit. Other examples include: team, family, committee, audience, company, staff.

Use "is" (singular)

When the group acts as one unit

"A group of tourists is arriving at 3 PM."

(The group arrives together as one)

Use "are" (plural)

When emphasizing individuals

"A group of people are waiting for different buses."

(They're acting individually)

Regional note: American English prefers "is" for collective nouns. British English often uses "are".

Examples

Group as one unit (singular verb)

✔A group of students is visiting the museum today.

✔The group has decided to postpone the meeting.

✔A group of protesters was blocking the entrance.

Individuals in the group (plural verb)

✔A group of employees are working on different projects.

✔The group have gone their separate ways.

✔A group of scientists are disagreeing about the results.

Other Collective Nouns

The same rule applies to other collective nouns:

• The team is/are
• The family is/are
• The committee is/are
• The audience is/are

• The company is/are
• The staff is/are
• The class is/are
• The government is/are

Important: Be Consistent!

Once you choose singular or plural, stay consistent within the same sentence or paragraph:

Inconsistent: The group is meeting later, and they are bringing food.

Consistent: The group is meeting later, and it is bringing food.
OR: The group are meeting later, and they are bringing food.

Choose agreement by meaning and writing context

The head of a group of people is group, not people. Singular agreement is a useful default for a group acting as one unit. British English can also use plural agreement to focus on the members. This is a usage distinction, not a rule that every British sentence must use are. If individual actions matter, the clearest rewrite is often the people in the group are.

Grammar patterns with explanations
Pattern	Example	Why it works
One unit	A group of volunteers is responsible for registration.	The group has a shared role.
Members emphasized	A group of volunteers are sharing their different experiences.	Plural agreement can foreground the members, especially in British English.
Clear plural rewrite	The volunteers in the group are sharing their experiences.	The subject volunteers is explicitly plural.
More than one group	Two groups of volunteers are arriving.	Groups itself is plural.
A plain plural noun	People are waiting outside.	Without group as the head, people takes are.

Five practice questions with explanations

Try each sentence before opening its answer. Explain the rule aloud, then write a similar sentence of your own.

Choose the usual singular-unit form: A group of visitors ___ booked for noon. (is / are)
Show answer and explanation
is
The booking treats the group as one unit.
Two groups of visitors ___ booked for noon. (is / are)
Show answer and explanation
are
The head noun groups is plural.
The people in this group ___ from different cities. (is / are)
Show answer and explanation
are
People is the subject; in this group does not make it singular.
Must every British English sentence with group use are?
Show answer and explanation
No.
Meaning and context matter; singular agreement is also used.
Rewrite to clearly emphasize individuals: A group of students are choosing different projects.
Show answer and explanation
The students in the group are choosing different projects.
The plural subject students makes the intended agreement unambiguous.

Reference: Cambridge: group words and collective nouns. Examples and exercises are written for this lesson.