audience ?

[whl626]

The audience give/gives ??? their standing ovation everytime when an onstage
performance is finished.

According to what i know ' audience ' can serve as a singular noun as well as plural when we refer to the people, right ? But in the above case, which ' give/ gives ' is correct ?

[Tdol]

In British English, they are both fine. Americans tend to use the singular more for collective nouns.

[CitySpeak]

In British English, they are both fine. Americans tend to use the singular more for collective nouns.

I would say it's a strong tendency.

[whl626]

I see, thanks :) That clears up the mess :)