Should I say 'My family is going' or 'My family are going' on vacation?
I'm writing a letter to a pen pal, and I got stuck on something simple: should I write 'My family is going on vacation next week' or 'My family are going on vacation next week'? I've seen both versions used before, but I'm not sure which is correct in this context.
Also, does this rule change if I'm talking about families in general, like 'Families are important'? I want to make sure my grammar sounds natural, especially since English isn't my first language.
Context:
I'm learning American English for school assignments.
What to Know
| What to Know | Why It Matters | Example | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| In American English, a key pattern to remember is that collective nouns (like 'family', 'team', 'group') are usually treated as singular when the group acts as a single unit. | Use 'is' with a singular verb when describing the family as a whole: 'My family is going on vacation.'. | This wording is correct because it matches the intended meaning in context. | Does this wording match my intended meaning in this sentence? |
| Writers often memorize a definition but miss the context cue that controls the correct choice. | This helps you choose wording by meaning instead of surface form. | A different phrasing is better when the literal meaning would be clearer. | Did I choose this form for meaning, not because it looked familiar? |
3 Answers
In American English, a key pattern to remember is that collective nouns (like 'family', 'team', 'group') are usually treated as singular when the group acts as a single unit. Use 'is' with a singular verb when describing the family as a whole: 'My family is going on vacation.'
Compare:
- 'The team is winning.' (American English: team = one unit)
- 'My family is going on vacation.' (the family = one group)
If you're talking about more than one family, use the plural form:
- 'Families are important.' (multiple families)
- 'My families are going on vacation.' (though uncommon, if you mean several families)
Practice:
Try writing:
- 'My group __ meeting today.' (is/are?)
- 'Groups __ meeting today.' (is/are?)
Self-check:
Ask yourself: Am I talking about one group or many groups? Use singular verbs for one, plural verbs for many.
In American English, we almost always treat the word 'family' as a single unit, and therefore use 'is':
- 'My family is going on vacation next week.'
This is different from British English, where 'family are' is also common when thinking of family as individuals.
Compare:
- American: 'The committee is meeting today.'
- British: 'The committee are meeting today.'
With the plural 'families', always use 'are':
- 'Families are important.'
Practice:
Rewrite these:
- 'My team __ having dinner.' (is/are?)
- 'Teams __ competing.' (is/are?)
Tip:
If the noun is singular (family/team/group), use 'is'. If it's plural (families/teams/groups), use 'are'.
When writing in American English, you should use 'is' with 'family' because it is considered a singular (collective) noun:
- Correct: 'My family is going on vacation next week.'
- Incorrect: 'My family are going on vacation next week.' (not standard in American English)
But when you refer to more than one family, use 'are':
- Correct: 'Families are important.'
- Incorrect: 'Family are important.'
Practice Suggestion:
Write 3 sentences about groups (team/class/company) using singular verbs, and 3 sentences about plural groups (teams/classes/companies) using plural verbs.
Self-editing Tip:
If the noun does NOT end with 's', check if it's talking about a single group—then use 'is'. If it does end with 's' and means more than one, use 'are'.
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