Which is correct birds fly or birds flies?

This is a common question that many English speakers have regarding subject-verb agreement with collective nouns like “birds.” The short answer is that “birds fly” is the correct phrase, not “birds flies.” This article will provide an in-depth explanation of why “birds fly” is grammatically correct, along with examples and tips for remembering proper subject-verb agreement with collective nouns.

The Basic Grammar Rule

In English grammar, the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. That means if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

For example:

• The dog runs.
• The dogs run.

In the first sentence, the singular subject “dog” takes the singular verb “runs.” In the second sentence, the plural subject “dogs” takes the plural verb “run.”

Collective Nouns and Subject-Verb Agreement

Many nouns in English can be either singular or plural, including collective nouns like “birds.” A collective noun refers to a group of people, animals, places, things, or ideas. Some other examples are:

• Family
• Crowd
• Jury
• Flock
• Team

With collective nouns, the verb can be either singular or plural depending on the context. If the collective noun is considered a single unit, it takes a singular verb. If the individuals in the group are considered separately, the noun takes a plural verb.

For example:

• The family is arriving tomorrow. (The family is considered one unit)
• The family are fighting over the inheritance. (Individual members of the family are considered separately)

“Birds Fly” vs “Birds Flies”

When it comes to the phrase “birds fly,” the subject is the collective noun “birds.” In this case, “birds” refers to birds as a whole group or species. We are making a general statement about the habits of birds as a category of living creatures. Therefore, the singular verb “fly” is correct:

Birds fly south for the winter.

We would not say “birds flies” because that implies we are talking about individual, separate birds. The singular “flies” does not match the collective subject “birds.”

Some more examples:

• The flock of birds flies overhead.
• The committee disagrees on the proposal.
• Our team wins most of its games.

In contrast, here are some examples where the plural verb is correct:

• The birds are chirping loudly in the trees.
• The committee members are arguing about the decision.
• Our team players are celebrating their victory.

In those sentences, the individuals within the collective group are being referred to separately, so the plural verb is needed.

Tricky Situations

In some cases, both the singular and plural verb with a collective noun could potentially work. For example:

• The family is/are arriving tomorrow.
• The jury is/are deliberating the verdict.

It depends whether you are thinking of the group as a single unit or as individual members. As long as the verb matches the sense of the sentence, either could be correct.

Collective Nouns as Plural Subjects

Pay close attention when a collective noun is clearly meant as a plural subject. In those cases, the verb must also be plural:

• The birds are chirping loudly in the trees.
• The cattle were grazing in the meadow.
• The people are standing in line for the concert.

Summary

To summarize the key points:

• “Birds fly” is correct when referring to birds as a whole.
• Collective nouns can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on meaning.
• Match the verb to the sense of the sentence.
• Use a plural verb if the collective noun is clearly plural in sense.

So in almost all cases, “birds fly” is the proper phrase. “Birds flies” would only be correct if referring to a specific, plural group of birds in a particular context.

Tips for Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns

Here are some tips to help you determine the proper subject-verb agreement with collective nouns:

• Identify the subject: Is the collective noun being used as a singular or plural subject in this sentence?
• Check the context: Determine if the noun feels more like a single unit or a group of individuals based on the context.
• Watch out for prepositional phrases: Phrases such as “a number of” or “a lot of” can make the subject plural.
• Verb proximity: Make sure the verb is close to the collective subject to avoid mistakes.
• Use your ear: Read the sentence aloud and choose the verb form that sounds right.

With practice, matching subjects and verbs correctly will become second nature. The more you read and write, the better sense you will develop for what sounds grammatically correct.

Practice Examples

Test your knowledge by identifying whether the subject and verb agree in these practice sentences:

Quiz Yourself

Here is a short quiz to check your understanding. Decide whether the sentence has the correct subject-verb agreement or not:

1. The herd of cattle roams across the plains. Yes
2. The class were noisy during the lecture. No – “class” is singular but “were” is plural
3. The jury is still deliberating its verdict after a week. Yes
4. The pride of lions attack their prey at night. No – “pride” is singular but “attack” is plural
5. Our family has dinner together every Friday. Yes

Conclusion

Getting subject-verb agreement right with collective nouns requires paying close attention to context and meaning. The noun may act as either a singular or plural subject depending on the sentence. Matching the verb correctly reflects good grammar skills. With helpful tips and practice, checking agreement will become second nature.

In summary, “birds fly” is almost always the correct phrase due to “birds” being a collective noun referring to the species as a whole. Only in certain contextual cases would “birds flies” potentially be accurate, though it is still grammatically dubious. I hope this explanation helps clarify the subject-verb agreement rules for collective nouns like “birds.” Let me know if you have any other questions!