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.

Originally Posted by tdol

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 :)