group is/are

[Tan Elaine]

A group of animals is/are passing by.

I think I can use either verb; 'is' if viewed as a group and 'are' if perceived as individual animals.

This is what I thought but a friend of mine says that only 'is' is correct. Is she right or am I?

Thanks.

[Daruma]

group
a number of people or things that are together in the same place or that are connected in some way: a group of girls / trees / houses A group of us are going to the theatre this evening. Students stood around in groups waiting for their results. The residents formed a community action group. English is a member of the Germanic group of languages The proportion of single parent families varies between different income groups. a minority group ethnic groups a group activity (= done by a number of people working together) She asked her students to get into groups of four. to work in groups

[Daruma]

Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
In British English group is used with both singular and plural verbs.
▪ A large group was/were waiting for him.

[konungursvia]

I would not use "A group are..." unless the audience is British. For a North American, or mixed audience, it is safer to say "The group is..." because it sounds correct to all, whereas "The group are..." sounds like an error to North American ears.

[bhaisahab]

A group of animals is/are passing by.

I think I can use either verb; 'is' if viewed as a group and 'are' if perceived as individual animals.

This is what I thought but a friend of mine says that only 'is' is correct. Is she right or am I?

Thanks.

Both are correct in BrE.

[The French]

I would not use "A group are..." unless the audience is British. For a North American, or mixed audience, it is safer to say "The group is..." because it sounds correct to all, whereas "The group are..." sounds like an error to North American ears.

Hello, my friend of Canada,

I think the both forms grammatically are correct for North American, if it's like in French grammar (I think a lot words come from French language), if you have a group of things, and you use is, it's to inderline the action of the group, but if you use are, for example about a group of insect who are eating a maiz field, it's to insist on each one of insect like crikets, but I'm not North American.

Perhaps a North American teacher show us the right answer.

Have a nice day.

[bhaisahab]

Hello, my friend of Canada,

I think the both forms grammatically are correct for North American, if it's like in French grammar (I think a lot words come from French language), if you have a group of things, and you use is, it's to inderline the action of the group, but if you use are, for example about a group of insect who are eating a maiz field, it's to insist on each one of insect like crikets, but I'm not North American.

Perhaps a North American teacher show us the right answer.

Have a nice day.

The French, it is true that a lot of words in English have their origins in French, mostly Norman French, but with many later additions as well. English grammar, however, is (largely) not influenced by French grammar.

[Tan Elaine]

Hello, my friend of Canada,

Perhaps a North American teacher show us the right answer.

Have a nice day.

Hello, my friend of Canada,

The preposition should be 'from', shouldn't it?

Thanks.

[konungursvia]

Hello, my friend of Canada,

I think the both forms grammatically are correct for North American, if it's like in French grammar (I think a lot words come from French language), if you have a group of things, and you use is, it's to inderline the action of the group, but if you use are, for example about a group of insect who are eating a maiz field, it's to insist on each one of insect like crikets, but I'm not North American.

Perhaps a North American teacher how us the right answer.

Have a nice day.

Hi the French, I think I qualify as a North American teacher myself, being both of those things at the same time.

You'd definitely raise eyebrows here if you said or wrote "the team are pleased with their victory" or other such collective nouns. It's not correct usage here, I promise you that.

[Tan Elaine]

Hello, my friend of Canada,

The preposition should be 'from', shouldn't it?

Thanks.

Could someone please help me?