Singular and Plural

Question 1

Sometimes we use a plural noun for one thing that has t__ parts.

Answer 1

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

Pants / jeans / slacks / shorts / trousers / pajamas / glasses / scissors

The word are plural, so they take a plural verb:

My pants are too long.

Also we can use a pair of + these words:

Those are nice jeans or That’s a nice pair of jeans.

Question 2

Some nouns end in -ics, but are not usually pl___.

Answer 2

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

Economics / electronics / gymnastics / mathematics / physics

Gymnastics is my favorite sport.

News is not plural.

Also some words ending in -s can be singular or plural:

Means / series / species

Question 3

We use a plural verb with pol___.

Answer 3

We use a plural verb with police.

The police are investigating the murder, but haven’t (not hasn’t) arrested anyone yet.

Note that we say a police officer, a policeman (not a police)

Question 4

We do not often use the plural of person. We normally use p___.

Answer 4

We do not often use the plural of person. We normally use people (with plural)

He’s a nice person vs They are nice people. _{(not nice persons)}

Many people don’t have enough to eat. _{(not doesn’t)}

Question 5

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

Answer 5

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

Twenty thousand dollars (= it) was stolen in the robbery.

Three years (= it) is a long time to be without job.

Six miles is a long way to wald every day.

Question 6

A friend of mine is writing a ___ (serie/s) shown troughout the world.

Answer 6

A friend of mine is writing a series shown troughout the world.

^{(series can be singular or plural)}

Question 7

A specie/species is a group of animals or plants that have the same characteristics.

Answer 7

A species is a group of animals or plants that have the same characteristics.

^{(species, always with a<strong>s</strong>, can be singular or plural:}

^{a species of birds / 200 species of bird)}

Question 8

The bicylce is a mean/means of transportation.

Answer 8

The bicylce is a means ^(moyen)of transportation.

^{(means, always witha <strong>s</strong>, can be singular or plural:}

^{a means or transportation/many means of transportation)}

Question 9

A friend of mine is writing a serie/series of articles for the local newspaper.

Answer 9

A friend of mine is writing a series of articles for the local newspaper.

^{(Serie, always with a <strong>s</strong>, can be singular or plural:}

^{a television serie/two television series)}

Question 10

Politics is/are my favorite interest.

Answer 10

Politics is my favorite interest.

^{(some nouns end in <strong>-ics</strong> are not usually plural)}

Question 11

The pants you bouth for me doesn’t/dont fit me.

Answer 11

The pants you bouth for me don’t fit me.

^{(two parts things end with a -s,and needalways plural verbs)}

Question 12

The police want/wants to interview two men about the robbery last week.

Answer 12

The police want to interview two men about the robbery last week.

^{(police = plural word)}

Question 13

My scissors isn’t/aren’t sharp.

Answer 13

My scissors aren’t sharp.

^{(two parts things end with a -s,and needalways plural verbs)}

Question 14

The news wasn’t/weren’t as bad as we expected.

Answer 14

The news wasn’t as bad as we expected.

^{(news, always with a <strong>-s</strong>, is not plural)}

Question 15

Three days isn’t/aren’t long enough for a good vacation.

Answer 15

Three days isn’t long enough for a good vacation.

^{(we think sumof… as one thing)}

Question 16

I’ts a nice place to visit. The people is/are friendly.

Answer 16

I’ts a nice place to visit. The people are friendly.

^{(people is a plural verb)}

Question 17

Does/Do the police know how the accident happened?

Answer 17

Do the police know how the accident happened?

^{(police = plural word)}

Question 18

Susan was wearing a black jean/black jeans.

Answer 18

Susan was wearing black jeans.

^{(two parts things end with a -s,and needalways plural verbs)}

Question 19

I’m going to buy a new pajama/pajamas.

Answer 19

I’m going to buy a new pajamas.

^{(two parts things end with a -s,and needalways plural verbs)}

Question 20

Five million dollars is/are a big amout of money.

Answer 20

Five million dollars is a big amout of money.

^{(we think sumof… as one thing)}

Question 21

There was a police/a policeman directing the traffic on the street.

Answer 21

There was a policeman directing the traffic on the street.

^{(we say a policeman/police officer not a police, always plural)}

Question 22

Many people has/have heard about the problem.

Answer 22

Many people have heard about the problem.

^{(people =plural word)}