Two questions

Hi.

1. I think I asked a question along this line a long time ago. Should we use a plural or singular verb after what I see as collective nouns?

army of ants

clutter of cats

swarm of buttrflies

2. Would you say the use of the modal "would" can be explained (?) like this?

Capitalize the first word just as you would (if you were asked) do with any sentence.