What is the agreement rule when dealing with a singular collective noun in American English? A. Use a singular verb if the collective noun is close to the verb. B. Use a singular verb if the collective noun is referring to unique individuals in the group; use a plural verb if the collective noun is clearly referring to the group as a whole. C. Use a plural verb if the collective noun uses and. D. Use a singular verb if the collective noun is referring to the group as a whole; use a plural verb if the collective noun is clearly referring to unique individuals in the group.