（a）It was late; but the audience was increasing. (Shaw)
(b) The audience were enjoying every minute of it. (CGEL)
同是用 audience 做主语,为什么一个用单数动词(was),另一个用复数动词(were)呢?
在英国英语中,当 audience 表示不可分割的整体时,其谓语动词应当用单数,例如:
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The audience was large. 观众数目很大。
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The audience was deeply affected. 观众深受感动。
但是，当 audience 表示组成该集合体的分散个体时，其谓语动词常常使用复数：
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The audience were all waving their programmes. (RWRT) 观众都挥舞着节目单。
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The audience are requested to be in their seats. (Wood) 要求观众坐在自己的座位上。
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The audience are dressed in a variety of ways, some in suits and dresses, some in jeans.
(FWF) 观众衣着各不相同,有的穿着套服和礼服,还有的穿着牛仔服。
但是,在美国英语中,audience 的动词谓语大都使用单数。对于考生来说,把这类集体名词永远看作是单数(即在概念上理解为集合体的整体),因而使用单数动词和单数代词,是比较保险的。
此外, crew, public, crowd, government, family, class, company, staff, group, college, team, university 等集体名词的用法, 与 audience 和 committee 基本相同。
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The train crew runs a railroad train. 列车乘务人员管理列车。
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The crew are paid to do all the work on the ship. (Neal) 船员们被雇来做船上所有的工作。
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The public consists of you and me. (CGEL) 公众包括你和我。
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The public are tired of demonstration. (同上) 公众对示威已感到厌倦。
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The crowd has been dispersed. 人群被驱散了。
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A new government has come into office. 新政府已就职。
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The government are discussing the proposal. (ALD) 政府正在讨论这项提案。
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My family is very large. (LDCE) 我的家庭很大。
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His family are waiting for him. 他的家人在等他。
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The class has elected its leader. (FWF) 该班已选出班长。
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The class are working on their individual projects today. 全班学生今天在搞自己的项目。
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The staff was very efficient. 这里的工作人员办事效率很高。
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The school's teaching staff are excellent. 这所学校的教学人员都很优秀。