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Irregular  Agreement

Unusual noun forms and agreement

 

 

Plural-Only Nouns
BASE FORM (no -S) FINAL -S

These plural-only nouns are not marked with the expected final -s.

These plural-only nouns have no singular form.  (Note the nouns consist of paired parts.)


Funny PeoplePeople are funny.  

*A people is at the door.
A person is at the door.
Two people are at the door.
Some people are at the door.
 

pants
Pants are bright .

jeans, trousers, breeches, overalls, briefs, cordoroys, slacks, knickers, shorts, etc.

*A pant is on the floor.
A pair of pants are on the floor..
This pant leg needs shortening.
 

the police
The police
are coming. (group noun)

*A police is at the door.
*Two police are at the door.
Two police officers / policemen are at the door.
 

scissors Scissors are useful.

pliers, tweezers, tongs, shears, snippers, forceps, etc.

*A scissor is useful.
A pair of scissors are useful.
This scissor blade needs sharpening.
 


CattleThe cattle are in the field.
The livestock are in the field.  (animals raised for food)
The poultry are in the pen. (birds raised for food)  

*Six cattle are in the field.  (Six head of cattle…)
A thousand cattle are on this ranch.
*This cattle is from our ranch.
These cattle are from are ranch.  

pants
Glasses are available in many styles.

goggles, binoculars, spectacles, etc.

*A glass is available in many styles.
A pair of glasses was left on the counter.
This glass lens needs replacing.
 

 

suds
Suds are coming ot of the washing machine.

*A sud is on my beer.
A bubble is on my nose.

 

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Related page: Singular plural forms

 

 

Singular-Only (no plural form)
BASE FORM (no -S) FINAL -S

Noncount nouns are singluar-only nouns which usually have no plural form. See exceptions. One could also argue that a unique noun is singular-only in actual usage (though a plural could be formed morphologically.) 

For some words, the -s is part of the lexical base of the word. It is not a plural marker.

a bowl of riceRice is delicious.  (all noncount nouns)

newspaperThe news is good today!
 


equator*The equator is equi-distant from the poles.  (Singular in usage only.)

equator, earth, universe, etc.

 

the measles
Measles
is a serious illness.
shingles, mumps, rabies, hives, hiccups.


 

 


teacherMathematics is an important course.

Classes: Economics, Physics, Linguistics, Gymnastics

Other similar words classics, statistics, acoustics, ethics have singular forms.

 

 

world series game
The World Series
is played in October.

series, species (The final -s is part of the word not a plural ending.)

 

 

 

 

Same Word Form – singular or plural
BASE FORM (no -S) FINAL -S

The singular form is used for both singular and plural reference to these animals.  A plural form may be used to express varieties.  See Plural–Varieties   This is also called "base plural" form.

A word form ending in -S is singular or plural in agreement.


deerA deer is in the field.
Two deer
are in the field.

 

 

 

kennels
The kennels
is located in a building nearby.
The kennels are kept clean.

headquarters, barracks, crossroads, rapids, golf links

sheepA sheep is walking on the road.
Two sheep are walking on the road(also: fish, deer)
  

 


fishA fish is hiding behind the rock.
Three fish
are swimming with scuba tanks.

 

See Irreg Plural Nouns

 

aircraftAn aircraft is overhead.
Aircraft
are overhead.

An aircraft is overhead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign Singular /Plural Markers
SINGULAR FORM OTHER PLURAL ENDINGS

A  number of nouns of foreign origin do not form a plural from a base form + s.  The singular form is inflected (marked) differently from the plural form.  Singular markers include -us, -om, -on, -ium, -ix, -ex, -is.

Plural markers include -i, -a, -ae, ices, -en, -es

cactusA cactus is able to live in the desert.

bacterium, index, phenomenon, child, datum, analysis, etc.

 

 

cactiCacti are able to live in the desert.

bacteria, indices, phenomena, children, data, analyses, etc.

 

See Borrowed Words.

 

 

 

 

Agreement

Other special cases

 

 

Language — People
LANGUAGE PEOPLE

The noun for a language is singular in agreement.

The noun for a people (group) or nationality is plural in agreement.    

English spoken here
English is spoken here.
LANGUAGE: Spanish Japanese, Chinese,
Portuguese, Chinese, Swahili, etc.

 

 

The English
The English are a proud  people.
PEOPLE: The Japanese, The Chinese,The Portuguese, The Spaniards, etc.


 

See - Articles - Nationality  |  The Group

 

 

Group Nouns
SINGULAR AGREEMENT PLURAL AGREEMENT

Refers to all as a group.  It takes all to win.

Refers to the members of the group – each one.


Boy ScoutsThe Boy Scouts is a large organization.

Organizations: The United Nations, The Democrats, The Lyons Club, etc.
 

scouts

The boy scouts are selling Christmas trees.

Refers to members, individuals.


US MapThe United States is a large country.

The Philippines, the Maldives, the Netherlands, etc.


congressThe United States are constantly disagreeing.

Refers to members, individuals, governors


Clock twenty minutesTwenty minutes is a short time.

Quantities of time: 24 hours, 7 days a week,
Four plus four is eight. One and one is two.

Three hundred and sixty five days equals a year.

But not percentages or fractions.  See Phrase Noun Agr   

 


a child in "time out"These twenty minutes are passing slowly.

Refers to units.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clause Agreement
THAT / IT / THERE – CLAUSE GERUND / INFINITIVE CLAUSE

A that-clause, it-clause, and there-clause takes singular agreement.

An infinitive clause, or gerund clause takes singular agreement.

THAT

sleep walkerThat we are tired is obvious to everyone.

 

        See That–Subj Clauses   

GERUND

Dancing    Dancing is a lot of fun
    Gerunds (activities) : running, swimming, cooking, sleeping, etc.
    Infinitives (activities) : to run, to swim, to cook, to sleep, etc.

  See Gerund as Subject   

IT

lab technician    It is difficult to escapeIt is a good idea to take it outside.

    It is +adj + infinitive.
   

INFINITIVE

danceTo dance is devine.

See Infinitive as Subject. 

WH– CLAUSES


What she said is/ was amusing to everyone.
speakerWhere she went
When she smiled
How she laughed
Whether or not she was in love

 See What– Subj Clauses   

 

obvious (adj.) – easily seen or recognized

 

 

Singular Item List
SINGULAR ITEM MULTIPLE SINGULAR-ITEM LIST

packageA package is on the desk.
A package or box is on the desk. (I can't remember which.)

 

 multiple singular items in a series 

a pencil, a notebook, and an eraserA pencil, a notebook and an eraser are on the desk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bat and ballPractice 1

Baseball

 

Is the agreement correct?
  1. Select an option: correct or incorrect.
  2. Read the feedback to check your response.

 

# SENTENCE YOUR RESPONSE & FEEDBACK
1. Playing baseball and football is my favorite thing to do    

2. My baseball team, The Giants, is made up of fifteen guys.    

3. Our coach is from the Philippines which are pretty far away from where we live.      

4. The people on my team are funny.        

5. The 90 minutes that we play together are good workout.  

workout (n.)  – excercise
   

6. The police is one of our supporters.

support (n.) – money that you give a person, group, organization, etc., to help pay for their costs  
   

7. They help buy our uniforms which are very nice.     

8. What we need to buy next are some new equipments.      

9. Our bat, ball, and catcher's mask needs replacement.       

10. We hope to win the Little League World Series, which are coming up soon.        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

baby handlesThe coupleDigitl Piggy BankPractice 2

Next Season's Toys

 

 

 

Select the correct agreement.    
  1. Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK YOUR ANSWER
11.

sophisticated – grown up; adult-like
12.
13.

reunite (v.) – bring together again
campaign (n.) – actions that we take to get attention in marketing or politics
14.


celebrity (n.) – well-known person, usually living
15.
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

sheep

Sheep with Sheep Dog

Practice 3

English Sheep

 

 

Edit the sentence.
  1. Read each sentence and edit it so that the agreement is correct.
  2. Compare your edits to the answers on the right. 
    Bracketed [ ] letters or words should be deleted.
    Asterisk *enclosed* words should be changed.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK YOUR ANSWER
16.
17.
18.
19.   
20.   
21.   
22.   
   

See Phrase Noun Agr for percentages and fractions.