Audience Is Plural ?

[vader jr]

I am confused with the word 'audience'..

Is it singular ?
Is it countable noun ?
Is the word "audiences" exist ?

"The audience are watching the drama performance"
Is it correct..?

[billmcd]

"Audience": singular countable noun.

[SoothingDave]

Not a teacher.

In America, group words like "audience" or "committee" are generally treated as a singular. The audience is waiting. The team is going for ice cream after the game.

Audience is not countable.

Audiences is a word. You have one audience watch a play one night and a different one the next. You can refer to them as "audiences." Audiences seem to enjoy the show very much.

[vader jr]

If "audience" is singular countable noun..

Is it correct if I write..
"There are many audience in the hall."

It means "audience" must be followed by "is" not "are"..

Correct me..

[Heterological]

No, there is just one audience in the hall. An audience includes all people observing a particular performance. Think of it as a more specific form of the word "group."

[billmcd]

Not a teacher.

In America, group words like "audience" or "committee" are generally treated as a singular. The audience is waiting. The team is going for ice cream after the game.

Audience is not countable.

Audiences is a word. You have one audience watch a play one night and a different one the next. You can refer to them as "audiences." Audiences seem to enjoy the show very much.

I consider "audience" countable. Why do you indicate it as "not countable" and use as an example, "Audiences seem to enjoy........."?

[SoothingDave]

I consider "audience" countable. Why do you indicate it as "not countable" and use as an example, "Audiences seem to enjoy........."?

Probably cause I made a mistake.

[Barb_D]

Hi vader,

If "audience" is singular countable noun..

Is it correct if I write..
"There are many audience in the hall."

It means "audience" must be followed by "is" not "are"..

Correct me..

Audience means "the people in attendance."

There are many people making up the audience.
There is a large audience.

But not "There are many audience[s] in the hall."

[bertietheblue]

Like many collective nouns, 'audience' can be singular or plural. It's singular if you see the audience as a whole, plural if you see it as made up of individuals. Since an audience is usually seen as a whole, the singular is more common. However, in some cases I think the plural would be preferable, eg:

"The audience were booing throughout the performance."

since the emphasis is on individual audience members who are booing.