Irregular Agreement: recognizing unusual singular or plural forms

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.)
People 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 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 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 are useful. pliers, tweezers, tongs, shears, snippers, forceps, etc. *A scissor is useful. A pair of scissors are useful. This scissor blade needs sharpening.
The 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.	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 are coming ot of the washing machine. *A sud is on my beer. A bubble is on my nose.

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 People People 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 are useful.

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

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

Cattle The 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.
Rice is delicious. (all noncount nouns)	The news is good today!
*The equator is equi-distant from the poles. (Singular in usage only.) equator, earth, universe, etc.	Measles is a serious illness. shingles, mumps, rabies, hives, hiccups.
	Mathematics is an important course. Classes: Economics, Physics, Linguistics, Gymnastics Other similar words classics, statistics, acoustics, ethics have singular forms.
	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.
A deer is in the field. Two deer are in the field.	The kennels is located in a building nearby. The kennels are kept clean. headquarters, barracks, crossroads, rapids, golf links
A sheep is walking on the road. Two sheep are walking on the road. (also: fish, deer)
A fish is hiding behind the rock. Three fish are swimming with scuba tanks. See Irreg Plural Nouns
An 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.
A cactus is able to live in the desert. bacterium, index, phenomenon, child, datum, analysis, etc.	Cacti are able to live in the desert. bacteria, indices, phenomena, children, data, analyses, etc.

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.

cactus A cactus is able to live in the desert.

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

cacti Cacti 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 is spoken here. LANGUAGE: Spanish Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Chinese, Swahili, etc.	The English are a proud people. PEOPLE: The Japanese, The Chinese,The Portuguese, The Spaniards, etc.

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 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.
The Boy Scouts is a large organization. Organizations: The United Nations, The Democrats, The Lyons Club, etc.	The boy scouts are selling Christmas trees. Refers to members, individuals.
The United States is a large country. The Philippines, the Maldives, the Netherlands, etc.	The United States are constantly disagreeing. Refers to members, individuals, governors
Twenty 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	These twenty minutes are passing slowly. Refers to units.

SINGULAR AGREEMENT

PLURAL AGREEMENT

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

Refers to the members of the group – each one.

The 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 Map The United States is a large country.

The Philippines, the Maldives, the Netherlands, etc.

congress The United States are constantly disagreeing.

Refers to members, individuals, governors

Clock twenty minutes Twenty 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 That we are tired is obvious to everyone. See That–Subj Clauses	GERUND 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 It is difficult to escape. It is a good idea to take it outside. It is +adj + infinitive.	INFINITIVE To dance is devine. See Infinitive as Subject.
WH– CLAUSES What she said is/ was amusing to everyone. Where 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
A 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 eraser are on the desk.

SINGULAR ITEM

MULTIPLE SINGULAR-ITEM LIST

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

Practice 1

Baseball

Is the agreement correct?

Select an option: correct or incorrect.
Read the feedback to check your response.

#	SENTENCE	YOUR RESPONSE & FEEDBACK
1.	Playing baseball and football is my favorite thing to do.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 1
2.	My baseball team, The Giants, is made up of fifteen guys.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 2
3.	Our coach is from the Philippines which are pretty far away from where we live.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 3
4.	The people on my team are funny.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 4
5.	The 90 minutes that we play together are good workout. workout (n.) – excercise	Correct Incorrect Feedback 5
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	Correct Incorrect Feedback 6
7.	They help buy our uniforms which are very nice.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 7
8.	What we need to buy next are some new equipments.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 8
9.	Our bat, ball, and catcher's mask needs replacement.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 9
10.	We hope to win the Little League World Series, which are coming up soon.	Correct Incorrect Feedback 10

Practice 2

Next Season's Toys

Select the correct agreement.

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

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
11.	The holiday season just ended, but the toy industry is looking ahead to the next holiday season. The news that toys will be more sophisticated than ever. sophisticated – grown up; adult-like
12.	Soon, you'll be able to buy your niece or nephew a digital piggy bank. What it does count the money for the child.
13.	Mattel, the world's largest toy company, a marketing campaign to reunite one of America's most famous couples — Barbie and Ken. reunite (v.) – bring together again campaign (n.) – actions that we take to get attention in marketing or politics
14.	After a split on Valentine's Day in 2004, the two plastic celebrities lived separate, but successful, doll lives. Whether Barbie should "take Ken back" on your vote on barbieandken.com. celebrity (n.) – well-known person, usually living
15.	Fisher-Price's new toy with handles mom and dad's iPhone while letting their baby play with the apps or chat with grandma on Face Time. Face Time – Apple's version of video chat

sheep

Sheep with Sheep Dog

Practice 3

English Sheep

Edit the sentence.

Read each sentence and edit it so that the agreement is correct.
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.	The English is well-known for raising sheeps. There are over sixty different breeds of sheeps in the UK. breed (n.) – type of animal EDIT THIS: The English is well-known for raising sheeps. There are over sixty different breeds of sheeps in the UK.
17.	Sheep has been raised in England for hundreds of years. Ninety per-cent of the sheep is raised for wool. raise (v.) – care for, look after EDIT THIS: Sheep has been raised in England for hundreds of years. Ninety per-cent of the sheep is raised for wool.
18.	Annually, from two to thirty pounds of wool are produced by one sheep. The wool from one sheep is called "a fleece", the wool from many sheep, "a clip". annually (adv.) – happening every year wool (n.) – the soft coat of a sheep produce (v.) – make, grow, create EDIT THIS: Annually, from two to thirty pounds of wool are produced by one sheep. The wool from one sheep is called a fleece, the wool from many sheep, a clip.
19.	Genetics are one factor that determine how much wool a sheep will produce. Lamb produces less wool than mature animal. genetics (n.) – the study of genes (the part of a cell in a living thing that controls what it looks like, how it grows, and how it develops) factor (n.) – part, one of several things that influence or cause a situation mature (adj.) – fully grown EDIT THIS: Genetics are one factor that determine how much wool a sheep will produce. Lamb produces less wool than mature animal.
20.	While sheeps and goats have many similarities, they are different species. Telling the difference between a sheep and goat are easy — look at their tails. A goat's tail goes up but a sheep's tail hangs down. EDIT THIS: While sheeps and goats have many similarities, they are different species. Telling the difference between a sheep and goat are easy — look at their tails. A goat's tail goes up but a sheep's tail hangs down
21.	Most goat grow hair that do not require shearing or combing. Most sheep grow wool that need to be sheared annually. sheari (v.) – to cut the wool off a sheep EDIT THIS: Most goat grow hair that do not require shearing or combing. Most sheep grow wool that need to be sheared annually.
22.	One sheep, named "Shrek", got out of its paddock and was not found for seven years. When the owner found and sheared Shrek, he produced 68 pound of wool, enough to make 20 men’s suits. paddock (n.) – small exercise pen for farm animals, especially horses owner (n.) – person who possesses, has, owns something EDIT THIS: One sheep, named "Shrek", got out of its paddock and was not found for seven years. When the owner found and sheared Shrek, he produced 68 pound of wool, enough to make 20 men’s suits.

See Phrase Noun Agr for percentages and fractions.

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