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Collective nouns take a singular verb

In English, we often use plural verbs for words that describe groups of people. For example, everyone says "the police are here" rather than "the police is here". If you speak British English, you might also use plural verbs for words like team, government, and staff. In French, however, grammar strictly follows the form of the noun.

A collective noun is a singular word that represents a group of individuals. Because the word itself is singular, the verb that follows it must also be singular. This rule applies no matter how many people are in the group.

Word list
classefA1 class La classe écoute = the class listens famillefA1 family La famille habite = the family lives groupemA1 group Le groupe chante = the group sings clubmA2 club Le club organise = the club are organising entreprisefA2 company L'entreprise recrute = the firm are recruiting équipefA2 team L'équipe a gagné = the team won gouvernementmA2 government Le gouvernement annonce = the government announces policefA2 police La police est = the police are populationfA2 population La population vieillit = the population is ageing sociétéfA2 company La société embauche = the company are hiring arméefB1 army L'armée avance = the army is advancing compagniefB1 company La compagnie propose = the company offer couplemB1 couple Le couple est marié = the couple are married foulefB1 crowd La foule attend = the crowd is waiting générationfB1 generation La nouvelle génération veut changer = the new generation want change liguefB1 league La ligue décide = the league decide nationfB1 nation La nation pleure = the nation are mourning orchestremB1 orchestra L'orchestre joue = the orchestra are playing organisationfB1 organization L'organisation aide = the organisation help parlementmB1 parliament Le parlement vote = parliament are voting partimB1 party Le parti choisit = the party are choosing personnelmB1 staff Le personnel est = the staff are publicmB1 audience Le public applaudit = the audience is clapping armée de terrefB2 army L'armée de terre recrute = the army are recruiting assistancefB2 audience L'assistance applaudit = the audience are clapping auditoiremB2 audience L'auditoire écoute = the audience are listening cavaleriefB2 cavalry La cavalerie arrive = the cavalry are coming choralefB2 choir La chorale répète = the choir are rehearsing chœurmB2 choir Le chœur chante = the choir sing communautéfB2 community La communauté se réunit = the community are meeting conseil municipalmB2 city council Le conseil municipal vote = the council are voting équipagemB2 crew L'équipage est prêt = the crew are ready famille nucléairefB2 nuclear family La famille nucléaire vit ensemble = the nuclear family live together jurymB2 jury Le jury décide = the jury decides maisonnéefB2 household La maisonnée dort = the household are asleep ménagemB2 household Le ménage dépense = the household spends pressefB2 press La presse critique = the press are criticising syndicatmB2 trade union Le syndicat négocie = the union are negotiating aristocratiefC1 aristocracy L'aristocratie possède = the aristocracy own classe moyennefC1 middle class La classe moyenne paie = the middle class pay classe ouvrièrefC1 working class La classe ouvrière vote = the working class vote clientèlefC1 clientele La clientèle est fidèle = the customers are loyal cultemC1 cult Le culte croit = the cult believe directionfC1 management La direction a décidé = management have decided effectifmC1 workforce L'effectif travaille = the workforce are working ethniefC1 ethnic group L'ethnie vit ici = the ethnic group live here groupe ethniquemC1 ethnic group Le groupe ethnique parle = the ethnic group speak main-d'œuvrefC1 workforce La main-d'œuvre manque = the workforce is lacking noblessefC1 nobility La noblesse refuse = the nobility refuse oppositionfC1 opposition L'opposition proteste = the opposition are protesting cabinetmC2 cabinet Le cabinet se réunit = the cabinet are meeting coalitionfC2 coalition La coalition gouverne = the coalition are governing infanteriefC2 infantry L'infanterie attaque = the infantry are attacking sénatmC2 senate Le sénat approuve = the senate approve
The biggest traps: police and staff

The word police is the most common trap for English speakers. In French, la police is a singular feminine noun. You must use a singular verb with it. If you want to talk about multiple individual officers and use a plural verb, you must use a different word entirely, such as les policiers. Similarly, le personnel (the staff) is strictly singular.

La police est arrivée et le public est resté calme.
(The police arrived and the audience remained calm.)
Le personnel est très serviable dans cet hôtel.
(The staff are very helpful in this hotel.)
Teams, audiences, and crowds

Words describing gatherings of people also take a singular verb. This includes l'équipe (the team), le public (the audience), l'assistance (the audience), and la foule (the crowd). Even if there are thousands of people in a stadium, the noun is singular and the verb must match it.

L'équipe célèbre sa grande victoire.
(The team are celebrating their big victory.)
Le public applaudit les acteurs à la fin de la pièce.
(The audience is applauding the actors at the end of the play.)
Une grande foule s'est rassemblée devant la mairie.
(A large crowd gathered in front of the town hall.)
Institutions and everyday collectives

Everyday groups like la famille (the family), la classe (the class), and le groupe (the group) work exactly the same way. The same goes for official bodies like le gouvernement (the government) and le jury (the jury). They are treated as single, unified entities in French grammar.

Ma famille habite en France depuis longtemps.
(My family has lived in France for a long time.)
Le gouvernement a annoncé de nouvelles lois hier.
(The government announced new laws yesterday.)
Le jury écoute attentivement le témoin.
(The jury are listening carefully to the witness.)
La classe comprend la leçon de grammaire.
(The class understands the grammar lesson.)
Summary

When dealing with groups of people in French, always look at the article before the noun. If the word uses le, la, or l', you must use the singular il or elle form of the verb. The number of people in the group does not change the grammar of the sentence.