Team.....Singular/Plural

[sd]

This source is some random grammar website on the internet
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/ ... r.html#Run

In the above site, the author gives this example -

The team of archaeologists left their tools behind at the site.

Isn't the above sentence wrong. Shouldn't the verb be its instead of their

Also, in Manhattan SC guide, there is a sentence -

Our army of hundred thousand soldiers is attacking the enemy.

Since army and team both are collective nouns. So, on similar should the original sentence be : -

The team of archaeologists left itstools behind at the site.
instead of
The team of archaeologists left theirtools behind at the site.

[RonPurewal]

This source is some random grammar website on the internet
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/ ... r.html#Run

In the above site, the author gives this example -

The team of archaeologists left their tools behind at the site.

Isn't the above sentence wrong. Shouldn't the verb be its instead of their

Also, in Manhattan SC guide, there is a sentence -

Our army of hundred thousand soldiers is attacking the enemy.

Since army and team both are collective nouns. So, on similar should the original sentence be : -

The team of archaeologists left itstools behind at the site.
instead of
The team of archaeologists left theirtools behind at the site.

the rule on collective nouns, in fomal english, is that they can be either singular or plural, depending on context:
* SINGULAR if collective actions or qualities are emphasized (ex: the faculty votes on new proposals once a month)
* PLURAL if individual actions or qualities are emphasized (ex: the faculty go home to their families at the end of the day --> each of them goes home to a different family)

BUT:
ON ALL GMAT PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE SEEN, COLLECTIVE NOUNS ARE USED IN THE SINGULAR.
it is certainly possible for collective nouns to be plural - see above - but we've NEVER seen this happen on an official problem.

that's why we're so simplistic in the strategy guide - this is all that we've ever seen on the test. if we see a collective noun used as a plural, we'll be sure to update the guide for the next edition.

[sw001]

Thanks Ron for simplistically explaining everything.

This is an old post. So, just want to make sure - there have been no exceptions seen on OG problems to this case, is that right?

I saw this on GMATClub - (so just wanted to double check)

When a collective is used to mean together or in bunch, the verb is singular.

for eg:- The staff is in a meeting.

Here the word staff is used for all staff members and since it is used to mean all here, the verb is singular.

When the collective noun is used to consider in parts, then verb is plural

for eg:- The staff are in disaggrment over the findings.

Here the word Staff is used to express opinion which would be different from one another and hence when expressed together the verb is plural.

[RonPurewal]

Whenever this is an issue, there will be concrete proof of whether the noun is singular or plural. Almost always singular, but there WILL be proof.

For instance, in OG Verbal Supplement (2nd edition) problem #98, the problem depends on the identification of "army" as singular-- but this status is established by the presence of "it" in the non-underlined part.
(Can't reproduce the problem here; you'll have to look it up.)

[RonPurewal]

More generally, GMAT problems are subjected to extensive "fairness testing" with regard to test takers' linguistic backgrounds.

Since this issue is a regionalism-- singular is the standard in some countries, plural in others-- a question would by definition be unfair if no concrete proof were given.
Differences in regional usage will NEVER be decisive issues in GMAT problems.