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
(or spectacles)
binoculars
scissors
These
words are plural, so they take a plural verb:
* My
trousers are too long. (not 'is too long')
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
mathematics (or maths)
physics electronics economics
politics
*
Gymnastics is my favourite sport.
News is
not plural (see Unit 69C):
* What
time is the news on television? (not 'are the news')
Some
words ending in -s can be singular or plural. For example:
means a
means of transport many means of
transport
series a
television series two television series
species
a species of bird 200 species of bird
C.
Some singular nouns are often used with a plural verb. For example:
government staff team
family audience committee
company firm
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) want to increase taxes.
* The
staff at the school (= they) are not happy with their new working conditions.
In the
same way, we often use a plural verb after the name of a sports team or a
company:
*
Scotland are playing France next week (in a football match).
* Shell
have increased the price of petrol.
A
singular verb (The government wants.../Shell has... etc.) is also possible.
We
always use a plural verb with police:
* The
police have arrested a friend of mine. (not 'The police has')
* Do you
think the police are well-paid?
Note
that a person in the police is 'a policeman/a policewoman/a police officer'
(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.
* Many
people don't have enough to eat. (not 'doesn't have')
E. We
think of a sum of money, a period of time, a distance etc. as one thing. So we
use a singular verb:
* Twenty
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 ...')
* Six
miles is a long way to walk every day.
@p157
EXERCISES
78.1
Complete the sentences using a word from Sections A or B. Sometimes you need a
or some.
1. My
eyes aren't very good. I need _glasses._
2. This
plant is _a_ very rare _species._
3.
Footballers don't wear trousers when they play. They wear ---.
4. The
bicycle is --- of transport.
5. The
bicycle and the car are --- of transport.
6. I
want to cut this piece of material. I need ---.
7. Ann
is going to write --- of articles for her local newspaper.
8. There
are a lot of American TV --- shown on British television.
9. While
we were out walking, we saw 25 different --- of bird.
78.2 In
each example the words on the left are connected with an activity (for example,
a sport or an academic subject). Write the name of the activity. Each time the
beginning of the word is given.
1.
calculate algebra equation: mathematics.
2. government
election minister: p---
3.
finance trade industry: e---
4.
running lumping throwing: a---
5. light
heat gravity: ph---
6.
exercises somersault parallel bars: gy---
7.
computer silicon chip video games: el---
78.3
Choose the correct form of the verb, singular or plural. In one sentence either
the singular or plural verb is possible.
1.
Gymnastics _is/are_ my favourite sport. ('is' is correct)
2. The
trousers you bought for me _doesn't/don't_ fit me.
3. The
police _want/wants_ to interview two men about the robbery last week.
4.
Physics _was/were_ my best subject at school.
5. Can I
borrow your scissors? Mine _isn't/aren't_ sharp enough.
6.
Fortunately the news _wasn't/weren't_ as bad as we expected.
7. Where
_does/do_ your family live?
8. Three
days _isn't/aren't_ long enough for a good holiday.
9. I
can't find my binoculars. Do you know where _it is/they are?_
10. Do
you think the people _is/are_ happy with the government?
11.
_Does/Do_ the police know how the accident happened?
12. I
don't like very hot weather. Thirty degrees _is/are_ too warm for me.
78.4
Most of these sentences are wrong. Correct them where necessary; Put 'RIGHT' if
the sentence is already correct.
1. The
government want to increase taxes. _RIGHT (wants' is also correct)_
2. Susan
was wearing a black jeans.
3.
Brazil are playing Italy in a football match next Wednesday.
4. I
like Martin and Jill. They're very nice persons.
5. I
need more money than that. Ten pounds are not enough.
6. I'm
going to buy a new pyjama.
7. The
committee haven't made a decision yet.
8. Many
people has given up smoking.
9. There
was a police standing at the corner of the street.
10. Has
the police arrived yet?
11. This
scissors is not very sharp.
