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Unit 79 · Articles and nouns

Singular and plural

Study

A

Sometimes we use a plural noun for one thing that has two parts. For example:

trousers (two legs)
also **jeans** / **tights** / **shorts** / **pants**
pyjamas (top and bottom)
glasses
binoculars
scissors

These words are plural, so they take a plural verb:

›

My trousers are too long. (not My trousers is)

You can also use a pair of + these words:

›

Those are nice jeans. or That's a nice pair of jeans. (not a nice jeans)

›

I need some new glasses. or I need a new pair of glasses.

B

Some nouns end in -ics, but are not usually plural. For example:

athletics gymnastics economics politics
physics electronics maths (= mathematics)
›

Gymnastics is my favourite sport. (not Gymnastics are)

News is not plural (see Unit 70B):

›

I have some news for you. It's good news!

Some words that end in -s can be singular or plural. For example:

means a means of transport many means of transport
series a TV series two TV series
species a species of fish 200 species of fish
C

Some singular nouns are often used with a plural verb. For example:

audience committee company family firm government staff team

These nouns are all groups of people. We often think of them as a number of people (= they), not as one thing (= it). So we often use a plural verb:

›

The government (= they) have decided to increase taxes.

›

The staff at the company (= they) are not happy with their working conditions.

In the same way, we often use a plural verb after the name of a company or a sports team:

›

Shell have increased the price of petrol.

›

Italy are playing Brazil next Sunday (in a football match).

You can also use a singular verb (The government wants … / Shell has … etc.).

We use a plural verb with police:

›

The police are investigating the crime, but haven't arrested anyone yet. (not The police is … hasn't)

Note that we say a police officer / a policeman / a policewoman (not a police).

D

We do not often use the plural of person ('persons'). We normally use people (a plural word):

›

He's a nice person. but They are nice people. (not nice persons)

›

Many people don't have enough to eat. (not Many people doesn't)

E

We think of a sum of money, a period of time, a distance etc. as one thing. So we use a singular verb:

›

Fifty thousand pounds (= it) was stolen in the robbery. (not were stolen)

›

Three years (= it) is a long time to be without a job. (not Three years are)

›

Two miles isn't very far to walk.

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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79.1

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.

aarethemdoesn'tpairitglassessomedon't
  1. 1
    My eyesight is getting worse. I need .example
  2. 2
    The trousers you bought for me fit me.
  3. 3
    The jacket you bought for me fit me.
  4. 4
    I need scissors to cut this piece of material.
  5. 5
    I can't find my binoculars. Have you seen ?
  6. 6
    I went shopping and bought a of jeans.
  7. 7
    Where my sunglasses?
  8. 8
    I went shopping and bought pair of pyjamas.
  9. 9
    I don't know much about politics. I'm not interested in .
79.2

Complete the sentences. Use a word from section B (news, series etc.).

  1. 1
    'Have you heard the ?' 'No. What's happened?'example
  2. 2
    The bicycle is a of transport.
  3. 3
    A lot of American TV are shown in other countries.
  4. 4
    The tiger is an endangered .
  5. 5
    There will be a of meetings to discuss the problem.
  6. 6
    Fortunately the wasn't as bad as we expected.
  7. 7
    How many of bird are there in the world?
  8. 8
    I didn't have my phone, so I had no of contacting you.
79.3

Choose the correct form of the verb, singular or plural. In three sentences either the singular or plural verb is possible.

  1. 1
    Gymnastics {} my favourite sport.
  2. 2
    My new glasses {} fit very well.
  3. 3
    The police {} to interview two men about the robbery.
  4. 4
    Physics {} my favourite subject at school.
  5. 5
    It's a nice place to visit. The people {} very friendly.
  6. 6
    Germany {} playing Spain tomorrow night. Are you going to watch it?
  7. 7
    {} the police know how the accident happened?
  8. 8
    Where {} your family live?
  9. 9
    Most people {} music.
  10. 10
    I like this cafe. The staff here {} really friendly and efficient.
79.4

Complete the sentences. Use is or isn't, and choose from the box.

a lot to carryenough moneytoo hotlong enougha long time
  1. 1
    Three years to be without a job.example
  2. 2
    Thirty degrees . Tom. He doesn't like hot weather.
  3. 3
    Ten dollars . We need more than that.
  4. 4
    Four days for a holiday. You need at least a week.
  5. 5
    Twenty kilos . Are you sure you can manage?
79.5

Are these sentences OK? Correct them where necessary.

  1. 1
    Three years are a long time to be without a job.
    Three years is a long timeexample
  2. 2
    The committee want to change the rules of the club.
    ✓ 正确，无需修改example
  3. 3
    Susan was wearing a black jeans.
  4. 4
    I like Martin and Jane. They're very nice persons.
  5. 5
    I'm going to buy some new pyjamas.
  6. 6
    There was a police directing traffic in the street.
  7. 7
    This scissors isn't very sharp.
  8. 8
    The company have decided to open a new factory.
  9. 9
    This plant is very rare species.
  10. 10
    Twelve hours are a long time to be on a plane.