Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun?

• A. The teams of players is winning the game.
• B. The team of player is winning the game.
• C. The team of players are winning the game.
• D. The team of players is winning the game.

Answer: (D)

Subject-verb agreement with collective nouns centers on whether the group is treated as a single unit or as individual members. The phrase “the team of players” refers to one team, even though it’s made up of players, so it should take a singular verb. That’s why “is winning the game” is correct—the team is acting as one unit and winning as a whole.

The other options mix up this idea: using a plural subject with a singular verb creates a mismatch, which isn’t standard for a collective noun treated as a single unit. Saying “the team of players are winning” suggests the players within the team are winning independently rather than the team as a whole, which changes the meaning. The odd phrasing in “the team of player” doesn’t align with the intended sense of a group made up of multiple players. The sentence that keeps the team as a single unit with a singular verb best demonstrates the proper agreement.