Grammar-Quizzes › Noun Phrases › Nouns–Plurals › Unusual Noun Forms

Unusual Singular or Plural Nouns

Recognize nouns with unusual base word forms

Nouns with base word forms that are plural-only

BASE WORD FORM WITHOUT -S IS PLURAL
The base word form of these words does not include a final -S, yet each word is plural-only. The nouns have no singular form. Another word has to be selected to express one item, a synonym.
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. They are an indigenous people. (group)
The police are coming. (group noun) A police is at the door. A peace officer is at the door. Two police are at the door. Two police officers / policemen are at the door.
The cattle are in the field. similar collective nouns: livestock, poultry 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 our ranch. An old plural form is kine.

BASE WORD FORM WITH -S IS PLURAL
The base word form of these words includes a final -S, and each word is plural-only; the nouns have no singular form. Another word has to be selected to express one part of the symmetrial pair.
His pants are colorful. CLOTHES: jeans, trousers, breeches, overalls, briefs, corduroys, slacks, knickers, shorts, etc. *A pant / A pair of pants are on the floor. / This pant leg needs shortening.
Scissors are useful. TOOLS: pliers, tweezers, tongs, shears, snippers, forceps, etc. *A scissor is useful. A pair of scissors are useful. This scissor blade needs sharpening.
Glasses are available in many styles. EYEWEAR: goggles, binoculars, spectacles, lens, 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 out of the washing machine. *A sud is on my beer. A bubble is on my nose.
Fireworks are beautiful in the night sky. ~A firework is noisy.¹ A roman candle should not be held in the hand. A fire cracker makes a lot of noise. A sparkler can be used as a birthday candle.

BASE WORD FORM WITH -S IS PLURAL

The base word form of these words includes a final -S, and each word is plural-only; the nouns have no singular form. Another word has to be selected to express one part of the symmetrial pair.

pants His pants are colorful.

CLOTHES: jeans, trousers, breeches, overalls, briefs, corduroys, slacks, knickers, shorts, etc.

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

Scissors are useful.

TOOLS: pliers, tweezers, tongs, shears, snippers, forceps, etc.
*A scissor is useful.
A pair of scissors are useful.
This scissor blade needs sharpening.

pants Glasses are available in many styles.

EYEWEAR: goggles, binoculars, spectacles, lens, 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 out of the washing machine.

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

fireworks in night sky Fireworks are beautiful in the night sky.

~A firework is noisy.¹
A roman candle should not be held in the hand.
A fire cracker makes a lot of noise.
A sparkler can be used as a birthday candle.

*not used / borderline usage or requires special circumstance

livestock (N) – collective noun for animals raised for food

poultry (N) – collective noun for birds raised for food

cattle (N) – collective noun for: bulls, cows, steer, heifers, etc.

¹ The singular form exists in the dictionary but is rarely used. ~I bought a firework. The singular or plural form can function as a modifier to another noun: A firework cartridge was found at the scene of the fire. Some fireworks were seen in the night sky. See Nouns as Modifiers.

Related page: Singular form (no change for plural form)

Singular-Only Noun Forms

Recognize nouns with base word forms that are singular-only

Singular Agreement

BASE WORD FORM IS SINGULAR
The base word form of these words does not include final -S. The nouns are singular in agreement with the verb. This group includes noncount nouns, unique nouns, singular pronouns.
Rice is delicious. (noncount nouns with few plural exceptions)
*The equator is equidistant from the poles. (Singular in usage only.) UNIQUE NOUNS: equator, earth, universe, mother, truth, etc.
It is difficult to catch a mouse. It is [adjective / noun] to…. It is +adj + infinitive.

BASE WORD FROM ENDS IN –S AND IS SINGULAR
The base word form of these words includes final -S. (The final -S is not a plural marker; it is part of the word.) The nouns are plural in agreement with the verb.
The news is good today!
Measles is a serious illness. ILLNESSES: shingles, mumps, rabies, hives, hiccups.
Mathematics is an important course. CLASSES: economics, physics, linguistics, gymnastics, ceramics (These words have singular forms: classics, statistics, acoustics, ethics.)
The World Series is played in October. OTHER: series, species (The final -s is part of the word and not a plural ending.)
Billiards is a game of skill. GAMES: checkers, darts, cards, dominoes, ninepins
Their whereabouts is unknown. (location) Whereabouts began as an adverb ending in -s. Here is functions as a noun. Other such adverbs—always, besides, towards—are not used as nouns.) Whereabouts also occurs with plural verb agreement.

BASE WORD FROM ENDS IN –S AND IS SINGULAR

The base word form of these words includes final -S. (The final -S is not a plural marker; it is part of the word.) The nouns are plural in agreement with the verb.

newspaper The news is good today!

the measles Measles is a serious illness.

ILLNESSES: shingles, mumps, rabies, hives, hiccups.

teacher Mathematics is an important course.

CLASSES: economics, physics, linguistics, gymnastics, ceramics (These words have singular forms: classics, statistics, acoustics, ethics.)

world series game The World Series is played in October.

OTHER: series, species

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

Billiards is a game of skill.

GAMES: checkers, darts, cards, dominoes, ninepins

whereabouts unknown Their whereabouts is unknown. (location)

Whereabouts began as an adverb ending in -s. Here is functions as a noun. Other such adverbs—always, besides, towards—are not used as nouns.)

Whereabouts also occurs with plural verb agreement.

(Huddleston 3.2.3)

Singular-Plural Noun Forms

Recognize nouns with base word forms that are singular or plural

Plural Noun Without -S and Singular Noun With -S

PLURAL WORD FORM WITHOUT –S
In these words, the base word form is used in both singular and plural contexts. (This is also called "base plural" form.)
A deer is in the field. Two deer are in the field.
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.

SINGULAR WORD FORM WITH –S
In these words, the base word form ends in final –s. The context of the word indicates whether a singular or plural meaning is intended.
The kennels is located in a building nearby. The kennels are kept clean. headquarters, barracks, crossroads, rapids, golf links
There are several means of communication—face-to-face, phone, text, email, and video chat. Which means of communication is/are preferred by you? The means (method) that I prefer is face-to-face.

A plural form with final -S may be used to express varieties of the item. See Plural–Varieties

(Huddleston 5 §3.2.3)

Foreign Words

Recognize plural forms in words borrowed from other languages

Foreign Singular /Plural Markers

BASE FORM
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.
A cactus is able to live in the desert. bacterium, index, phenomenon, child, datum, analysis, etc.

BASE FORM

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.

cactus A cactus is able to live in the desert.

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

OTHER WORD FORM ENDINGS
Plural markers include -i, -a, -ae, ices, -en, -es.
Cacti are able to live in the desert. bacteria, indices, phenomena, children, data, analyses, etc.

OTHER WORD FORM ENDINGS

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

cacti Cacti are able to live in the desert.

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

See Borrowed Words.

Special Cases

Note exceptions with languages, nationalities, and organizations

Language — People

BASE WORD FORM
The noun for a language is singular in agreement.
English is spoken here. LANGUAGE: Spanish Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Chinese, Swahili, etc.

BASE WORD FORM

The noun for a language is singular in agreement.

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

THE – BASE WORD FORM
The collective noun for a group or nationality is plural in agreement.
The English are a proud people. PEOPLE: The Japanese, The Chinese,The Portuguese, The Spaniards, etc.

Also see Articles - Nationality |

The Group — We often use the + adjective (without a noun) to talk about an unspecific group of people who are in a particular physical or social condition (the poor, the young, the blind).

Group Nouns

WORD FORM–S IS MASS NOUN
The group name refers to all the members as a whole. (noncount noun) It takes all to win.
The Boy Scouts is a large organization. Organizations: The United Nations, The Democrats, The Lyons Club, etc.
The United States is a large country. The Philippines, the Maldives, the Netherlands, etc.
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

WORD FORM–S IS MASS NOUN

The group name refers to all the members as a whole. (noncount noun) It takes all to win.

The Boy Scouts is a large organization.

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

US Map The United States is a large country.

The Philippines, the Maldives, the Netherlands, etc.

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

WORD FORM–S IS COUNT NOUN
The group name refers to each member. (count noun) Each person does his or her best to win.
The boy scouts are selling Christmas trees. Refers to members, individuals.
The United States are constantly disagreeing. Refers to members, individuals, governors
These twenty minutes are passing slowly. Refers to units.

WORD FORM–S IS COUNT NOUN

The group name refers to each member. (count noun) Each person does his or her best to win.

scouts The boy scouts are selling Christmas trees.

Refers to members, individuals.

congress The United States are constantly disagreeing.

Refers to members, individuals, governors

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

Refers to units.

Also see The w/Country Names.

Clause Agreement

Subject position

Mostly Singular

SINGLE CLAUSE AS SUBJECT
A clause (finite or nonfinite) may take the subject position. In most cases the clause is singular in agreement.
THAT
That he is tired is obvious to everyone. See That–Clauses
WH– CLAUSES
What she said was amusing to everyone. Where she went When she smiled How she laughed Whether or not she was in love See What– 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
INFINITIVE
To dance is divine. See Infinitive as Subject.

COMPOUND CLAUSES AS SUBJECT
When one or more clauses take the subject position (clauses coordinated with and) the agreement is plural.
THAT
That he is tired and that he sleepwalks are two reasons he cannot be left alone.
WH– CLAUSES
What she said and what she did were amusing to everyone.
GERUND
Dancing and singing are a lot of fun.
INFINITIVE
To dance and to sing are divine.

obvious (Adj) – easily seen or recognized

List Agreement

Nouns in a series

Subject – verb agreement with a series of nouns

SINGULAR ITEM
OR
A package is on the desk. multiple singular items in a series
A package, envelope, or box is on the desk. (I can't remember which.)

SINGULAR ITEM

package A package is on the desk.

multiple singular items in a series

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

MULTIPLE SINGULAR-ITEM LIST
AND
A pencil, a notebook and an eraser are on the desk.
A package, an envelope, and a box are on the desk.

MULTIPLE SINGULAR-ITEM LIST

AND

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

A package, an envelope, and a box are on the desk.

There agreement with a series of nouns

CLOSEST ITEM IS SINGULAR
There does not have a particular subject-predicate agreement. The agreement is with the closest noun.
There is a book, some pencils, and a notepad on my desk. (En-US) There are a book, some pencils, and a notepad on my desk. (En-Br)

CLOSEST ITEM IS SINGULAR

There does not have a particular subject-predicate agreement. The agreement is with the closest noun.

There is a book, some pencils, and a notepad on my desk. (En-US)

There are a book, some pencils, and a notepad on my desk. (En-Br)

CLOSEST ITEM IS PLURAL
There agreement differs with dialectal usage. In Br-English, plural agreement is used if the closest noun is plural or if there are multiple items in a series. In US English, plural agreement is with the closest noun.
There are some pencils, books, and notepads on my desk.

CLOSEST ITEM IS PLURAL

There agreement differs with dialectal usage. In Br-English, plural agreement is used if the closest noun is plural or if there are multiple items in a series. In US English, plural agreement is with the closest noun.

There are some pencils, books, and notepads on my desk.

Also agreement with There – Existence

Practice 2

Next Season's Toys

Complete the sentence.

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

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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Practice 3

English Sheep

sheepdog

Sheep with Sheep Dog

Read for Errors

The English is well-known for raising sheeps. There are over sixty different breeds of sheeps in the UK. Sheep has been raised in England for hundreds of years. Ninety per-cent of the sheep is raised for wool. 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". Genetics are one factor that determine how much wool a sheep will produce. Lamb produces less wool than mature animal.

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. Most goat grow hair that do not require shearing or combing. Most sheep grow wool that need to be sheared annually. 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.

breed (N) – type of animal

raise (V) – care for, look after

annually (adv.) – happening every year

wool (N) – the soft coat of a sheep

produce (V) – make, grow, create

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

shear (V) – to cut the wool off a sheep

paddock (N) – small exercise pen for farm animals, especially horses

owner (N) – person who possesses, has, owns something

Edit for errors.

Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.

16.

The English is well-known for raising sheeps. There are over sixty different breeds of sheeps in the UK.

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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

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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

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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

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20.

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21.

Most goat grow hair that do not require shearing or combing. Most sheep grow wool that need to be sheared annually.
shear (V) – to cut the wool off a sheep

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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

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