Singular and plural

◊ GRAMMAR

The singular is the form of a count noun or a verb which you use when referring to one person or thing. The plural is the form which you use when referring to more than one person or thing. For details of these forms, see entries at Plural forms of nouns and ↑ Verbs. There are also singular and plural pronouns: see entry at ↑ Pronouns.

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◊ agreement within noun group

A possessive determiner or an adjective in a noun group has the same form whether the noun is singular or plural. However, the determiner `this' has the plural form `these' and the determiner `that' has the plural form `those'.

Some progress has already been made toward alleviating this problem.

I thought about these problems all the way home.

That person has been following us all day.

For those people, however, there was no going back.

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Some general determiners, such as `each', are only used with singular count nouns; some, such as `all', are only used with uncount nouns or plural forms of nouns; and some, such as `several', are only used with plural forms of nouns. See entry at ↑ Quantity.

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◊ agreement of verb with noun group

When you use a verb in a statement or question, you must choose a singular verb form or a plural verb form to agree with the subject.

My mother hates her.

They hate each other.

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However, with all verbs except `be', only one form is used for the simple past tense, and modals only have one form, so in these cases no choice needs to be made.

Rudolph walked slowly back towards the store.

They walked towards the gate.

Power must be shared.

All these questions must be given answers.

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You also have to choose an appropriate verb form when using `there' followed by `be'. The verb form agrees with the noun group after `be'.

There was a car parked there.

There were no cars outside.

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◊ use of singular verb form

The singular form of a verb is used with:

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• the singular form of count nouns

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• uncount nouns

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• `he', `she', and `it'

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• `this' and `that'

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• indefinite pronouns such as `anybody', `no-one', and `something'

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• noun groups referring to a single quantity of something, such as `a lump of sugar' or `a kilo of coffee'

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Note that when you are referring to a period of time or an amount of something, you use a singular verb, even though you are using the plural form of a noun.

Twenty years is a long time.

Three hundred pounds is missing from club funds.

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◊ use of plural verb form

The plural form of a verb is used with:

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• the plural form of count nouns

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• plural nouns such as `clothes' and `goods'

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• `we' and `they'

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• `you', even when referring to just one person

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• `these' and `those'

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• pronouns such as `several' and `many'

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• quantifiers such as `a couple of' and `few of'

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See entry at ↑ Quantity for information on quantifiers and other words indicating quantity.

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Note that the form of a verb used with `I' is usually the same as the plural form. However, if the verb is `be', you use `am' for the simple present tense and `was' for the simple past tense.

I like working.

I have a lot of sympathy for them.

I am not ashamed of that.

I was so cold.

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◊ WARNING

Some plural forms of count nouns do not look plural because they do not end in `s'. However, they are still used with a plural verb form. See entry at Plural forms of nouns.

All men are equal.

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On the other hand, some nouns that end in `s' and look plural are uncount nouns and are used with a singular verb form. See section on uncount nouns in entry at ↑ Nouns.

Mathematics is too difficult for me.

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A small group of plural nouns refer to single items that have two linked parts, such as `jeans', `trousers', and `scissors'. They are used with the plural form of a verb. See section on plural nouns in entry at ↑ Nouns.

These scissors are sharp.

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However, when you want to refer to one of these items using `a pair of' you can use a singular or plural verb form. See entry at ↑ pair - couple.

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In the case of collective nouns such as `family' and `government', you can use a singular or a plural verb form after the singular form of the noun. See section on collective nouns in entry at ↑ Nouns.

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