10. Nouns used only in the Plural Form (PluraliaTantum)
Clothes consisting of two parts – they always agree with a plural verb,
e.g. trousers, shorts, breeches, pyjamas, knickers, pants, tights, etc.
Look at my new tights! They are torn!
Tools and instruments consisting of two parts - they always agree with a plural verb, e.g. scissors, binoculars, glasses, spectacles, tongs, etc.
These scissors are not sharp. Give me another pair.
c) Nouns that traditionally have no singular form and agree with either with a plural or a singular verb,
outskirts belongings earnings species whereabouts means
thanks
e.g. The outskirts of every big industrial city are dirty and ugly.
This species of birds becomes instinct.
His whereabouts are/ is still unknown.
This means of transport is the cheapest in the country.
d) Nouns whose singular and plural forms have different meanings,
e.g. an arm – рука; arms – оружие.
arms clothes customs congratulations riches spirits
goods looks manners works regards contents
premises savings greens
These nouns are used only with the plural verb,
e.g. All their savings were in the Western European Bank and when it bankrupted, they lost everything.
Give my regards to your parents.
11. Collective Nouns
Nouns that mean a group of people united by one common characteristic can be used either with a singular or plural verb. These nouns include:
family crowd audience public parliament crew government authority class company group team
Collective Nouns
singular
verb plural
verb
means that all people in this means that all people in this group
group are a unit are regarded as individuals
My family is important for me. My family are going away next weekend. (They are all going to different places)
The noun police is always used with the definite article and agrees with a plural verb, e.g.
The police were called.
The police are now looking for the bank robbers.
The nouns fish and fruit are nowadays used only in the singular even if different types are meant. But they are substituted by a plural pronoun, e.g.
The fisherman caught several big fish. The fish is good. They are now lying on the bottom of his boat glittering in the sun.
There are so many fish in our river. They have come for spawning.
The fruit was not ripe. They were picked up too early.
The nouns people and peoples mean different things:
a people – peoples, e.g.
A very friendly people lives in this part of Africa.
Different peoples live on out planet and they speak different languages.
people – persons, e.g.
Most people are good at heart.
This person is good at heart.
f) The nouns penny and pence are different notions.
pence means the price, e.g. The chewing gum costs 99 pence.
penny means coins, e.g.
The shop assistant gave me two pennies. It was wrong.
She had to give me 3 pennies.
The nouns hair and hairs have different meaning.
hair on one’s head always agrees with a singular verb, e.g.
Mary’s hair is red and thick.
a hair may have both singular and plural forms, e.g.
She always has a wonderful hairdo. Not a single hair out of place.
Look there is a long red hair on your jacket. It might be Mary’s