Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement involving a collective noun:

Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement involving a collective noun:

• A. The committee are submitting their report.
• B. The committee agrees with the plan.
• C. The committees agrees with the plan.
• D. The committee are submitting its report.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how a collective noun like “committee” behaves with a verb. When it’s treated as a single unit, the verb should be singular. In standard American usage, “The committee” is singular, so the verb must be “agrees.” That’s why the sentence with “The committee agrees with the plan” is correct.

The other options mix numbers incorrectly. Using “are submitting” with a singular “committee” treats the group as individuals, which isn’t standard here. “Committees” is plural, so “agrees” doesn't match it. And “The committee are submitting its report” combines a plural verb with a singular subject and an inconsistent pronoun, creating another mismatch.