When you refer to 'the group,' use 'is' because the group acts as a single unit.

The group is… or the group are? That little fork in the road crops up more often than you’d think, especially when you’re reading sentences that describe a bunch of people or things acting together. If you’ve ever hesitated over which verb fits “the group,” you’re not alone. This is one of those grammar moments that sounds tiny but actually changes how smooth a sentence feels. And yes, it’s exactly the sort of thing that pops up on the English section of a standardized language assessment, the kind that checks whether you can ride along with the rhythm of English without tripping over a misplaced verb.

Let me lay it out in plain terms.

The core rule, plain and simple

• When we talk about a collective noun like group, team, committee, orchestra, or jury, English treats it in two possible moods: as a single unit or as a collection of individuals.

• In American English, the default is to treat the group as a single unit. That means the verb should usually be singular.

• So, “the group is planning a meeting” is the natural way to say it, because the group is being seen as one unit working together.

Here’s the thing you might notice sometimes: in other varieties of English—especially British English—the same idea can be voiced with a plural verb, if the speaker wants to emphasize the individuals within the group. For example, “The group are arguing among themselves.” The emphasis shifts from the group as a single entity to the people in it. The meaning changes a touch, even though the core idea is the same.

The quick question you handed to a machine could look like this

• Question: Which verb form would you expect with “the group” describing multiple entities?

A. Are

B. Were

C. Is

D. Be

The correct answer is C. Is. And here’s why: when the sentence frames “the group” as a single unit—one unit with all its parts working together—the action is attributed to that unit. It’s not that every member is doing something individually; it’s that the whole group is doing it. So, “The group is planning a meeting” communicates unity, purpose, and a single, shared action.

A tiny detour that helps with real-life writing

You might be curious about the flip side. If the main idea is the group’s members acting separately or each doing something different, you could flip to a plural verb. But that’s a special case, a stylistic choice more than a rule. For most everyday uses, treat the group as a unit and keep the verb singular.

• Example 1 (singular, unit focus): The committee is voting on the proposal.

• Example 2 (plural emphasis): The committee are wearing their favorite pins today.

Notice the shift? The first sentence pins the action to the group as one body. The second leans into the people inside the group as individuals. Both are grammatical in the right context, but they signal different angles about the same situation.

Why this matters beyond a single sentence

You might wonder, “Okay, but does this really matter in the grand scheme?” Yes, it does. Grammar anchors clarity. When a reader hears “The group is…,” the mind traps onto a single picture: a team, a flock, a crew, a panel, a squad, all moving in one direction. If you flip to the plural, the mind starts tracking dozens of separate action stories at once. That can muddy the point you’re trying to make.

That clarity is a big deal on tests that skim for grammar know-how, like the English section on standardized language assessments. The questions aren’t just about memorizing a rule; they’re about reading comprehension, precision, and staying consistent in your writing. If you fixate on the wrong verb, you interrupt the flow and your meaning leaks out.

A handful of practical examples to anchor the rule

Here are some everyday sentences that illustrate the idea from different angles. I’ll label them as unit-focused and members-focused, so you can hear the contrast.

• Unit-focused (singular)

• The team is winning its next game.

• The board is ready to approve the budget.

• The audience is buzzing after the finale.

• Members-focused (plural emphasis)

• The team are wearing their new uniforms.

• The staff are debating the policy changes.

• The committee are planning their next steps.

You’ll notice in the first group, the focus is on one outcome or state of the group. In the second, the emphasis is on the people inside the group and what they’re doing or thinking. Both patterns exist; the choice comes down to what you want to highlight.

A quick check you can use while you write

When you’re faced with a sentence and you’re unsure which verb to pick, try this little mental trick:

• Replace the subject with a pronoun that expresses unity. If the sentence still sounds natural with a singular pronoun like it, use a singular verb.

• Replace the subject with a pronoun that treats the subject as individuals. If that feels natural, a plural verb might be appropriate.

• Read the sentence aloud. If your ear hears a single beat, you’re leaning toward singular. If there’s a pause or a sense of multiple actions, consider the plural.

Let’s try a couple of practice riffs

• The group is rehearsing for the concert tonight. (unity, singular)

• The group are rehearsing their parts tonight. (emphasizing members)

• The jury is divided on the verdict. (unity)

• The jury are arguing about the instructions. (members)

Notice how the meaning shifts with the switch? It’s a subtle turn, but it can tilt the reader’s perception of what’s happening.

Beyond “the group”

Collective nouns are more than a single tricky example. Here are a few more you’ll meet in texts and on language assessments:

• The band is touring.

• The committee is reviewing proposals.

• The orchestra is tuning its instruments.

• The crowd is excited about the show.

• The staff are handling a flood of emails today. (Here, plural emphasis works because the group is portrayed as individuals doing different things.)

If you want to sharpen your eye for this, a good habit is to spot the noun plus its verb in a paragraph and ask: is this talking about one unit or many people? That tiny pause can keep your writing crisp.

A small, friendly detour: how context nudges the rule

Sometimes a sentence might feel off if you apply the unit rule too rigidly. Context matters. If a writer wants to foreground disagreement, individual actions, or a dynamic, they may slip into plural. If the writer wants to keep the focus tight on a single action, singular wins.

This kind of nuance makes English lively. It’s not a dull checklist. It’s about how writers choose to present a scene: as a chorus operating in unison or as a crowd with many voices.

How to internalize this for everyday reading and writing

• Read with an ear for rhythm. If a sentence sounds like one continuous beat, that’s a hint toward a singular verb.

• Notice how the subject is framed. Is the subject a single unit or a group of people acting separately? Your answer points you to the right verb.

• Don’t get trapped by a long noun phrase. The head noun (the main idea) often drives the agreement more than the modifiers that follow.

A short glossary you can tuck into your mental toolbox

• Collective noun: A noun that refers to a group of individuals (group, team, committee, audience, jury, staff, band, orchestra, crowd, panel, etc.).

• Subject-verb agreement: The rule that the verb must match its subject in number (singular vs. plural).

• Unit vs. individuals nuance: The semantic tilt in which a writer emphasizes the group as a single entity or as the people inside the group.

Putting it together: the art of precise, readable sentences

If there’s a thread tying all of this together, it’s this: clarity matters more than flash. A sentence that flows and is easy to parse keeps readers moving, whether they’re sipping coffee, scrolling on a phone, or reading on a bus. The group is a great little test case because it spotlights a tiny choice that has big impact on how the sentence lands.

And yes, the same idea appears in many other contexts—on the page and in real life. When you’re coordinating a project, gathering a crowd, or simply describing a scene, the same instinct helps you pick the right verb. It’s not a magic trick; it’s listening to the rhythm your words create and choosing precision over ambiguity.

A final nudge to keep your language moving

Here’s a little encouragement: English is a living toolkit. It invites you to play a moment, feel a nuance, and then decide what fits best. The rule about “the group” and its verb is a ready-made example of the balance between unity and individuality that language loves to negotiate. By noticing how a sentence sounds when you read it aloud, you train your ear to catch the subtle difference between “is” and “are” without breaking your stride.

So, the next time you write or read a sentence that starts with “the group,” pause for a heartbeat. Ask yourself: Is this a single unit doing something as one? If yes, “is” is your friend. If you’re highlighting the people inside the group, you might tip toward a plural. Either way, you’ll land with sentences that feel natural, clear, and true to what you mean.

A quick recap: why this matters and how to apply it

• The correct form with “the group” describing a single unit is typically is.

• Use are if you intend to spotlight individuals within the group or if the context makes the members act independently.

• This kind of discernment shows up in the English section of assessments and in everyday writing.

• Practice with short sentences, listen to rhythm, and let meaning guide your choice.

If you’ve stuck with me this far, you’ve got a solid handle on one of those small but mighty grammar details that make a big difference in understanding—and being understood. And who knows? A tiny insight like this can boost your confidence when you’re parsing sentences in longer passages, choosing wording in essays, or just appreciating how language mirrors the way we think and interact.

So next time you encounter a sentence starting with “the group,” you’ll hear not just a word, but a decision—the decision of whether to treat a group as one beat or a chorus of voices. And that, in its own quiet way, is a little victory for clear communication.