Family有两个意思，作"家庭"时，表示家庭这个整体，是单数概念。做主语时，谓语动词用单数。
My family is very large.
我的家庭是个很大的家庭。（单数）
注意: Family，作"家庭"时，有复数形式，表示几个家庭。
There has been some bad feeling between the two families.
两家人之前有过节。（指两个家庭）
Some families stocked their cellars with food and water.
有些家庭在地窖里储备了食品和水。
Family，作"家人，家庭成员"时，是集合名词，表示复数概念。做主语时，谓语动词用复数。但family一词不用复数形式。
His family came to Los Angeles at the turn of the century.
It had been designed as a family house.
