Collective noun question

[ddohnggo]

I have a question regarding collective nouns that I've been unable to get a definitive answer from google searches and searches on the forum. For collective nouns such as New York Yankees and the White Stripes both refer to a group of people. Is it that both should use a singular verb when the sentence states that the subject is doing something as unit and both should use a plural verb when the sentence states that the subject is doing something individually?

For example:
1. The White Stripes have put away their instruments (plural as individuals)
2. The White Stripes has finished playing (singular as a unit)

Is this correct or should the collective nouns always have a singular verb?

[ddohnggo]

another example is 'The Oneida'. Is this not a collective noun, but needs a plural verb?

[RonPurewal]

whoa there.

a 'collective noun' is, by definition, a singular noun, like faculty or band, which is sometimes treated as plural and sometimes treated as singular.

those nouns you mention - yankees and white stripes - are by definition plural, and always take plural forms. you would never say 'the new york yankees has', unless it's part of a modifier (as in derek jeter of the n.y. yankees has become so famous that he appears regularly in supermarket tabloids.)

only exceptions i can think of off the top of my head:
(1) the United States is always singular.
(2) book titles, etc.: Seven Brothers is a classic work of Finnish literature.