Today's English
March 20th, 2017
English is a peculiar language in which some words looking like plural are actually singular and vice versa. Being puzzled about the subject, you are likely to error in using the verb. The following list may assist to resist the lingual temptation.
1. The phrases such as a lot of, a great deal of, plenty of, most of and some of are singular when they indicate amount or quantity but they are plural when they mention number:
A lot of books were kept on the table. (Plural usage with countable noun)
A lot of work was completed by him. (Singular usage with uncountable noun)
There were plenty of apples in the tree.
There was plenty of space for storage.
2. Words such as pants, trousers, specs, glasses, scissors, shoes, gloves and shears are singular when they are used with a pair of, but plural when they are used without “a pair of” or with “pairs of".
That pair of shoes is mine.
These shoes are mine and don’t touch them.
There was a pair of scissors near the bag.
These scissors are not sharp enough to cut the clothes.
3. The word “furniture” has no plural form and is never used as “furnitures.” If you want it to mean several items, you will have to use “pieces of.”
The furniture in the room has to be moved to another room.
Few more pieces of furniture were bought last week.
4. The same applies to “advice” but it is never used in plural. (No such a word as “advices” exists in English)
His advice was very useful.
His much advice irritates everyone.
5. Mathematics and economics are always singular when they refer to a subject but plural when they refer to mathematical calculations and economic facts respectively.
Mathematics is the only subject in which many of our students fail.
His mathematics are always accurate. (Meaning mathematical calculations)
The economics of the country are shocking to us. (=economic facts)
Economics is my favourite subject.
6. Information is there but there is no word like “informations” in English. Another thing, we should not use the article a or an before information. But we can use “a piece of", “pieces of" or lot of.
The information about the accident has reached us very late.
We collected a lot of Information about him.
7. Sheep is both singular and plural. There is no word as “sheeps” in English. You can say a flock of or flocks of sheep.
A sheep was grazing in the field.
Sheep were grazing in the field.
8. Fish is both singular and plural. The word “fishes” is used to refer to different species of fishes.
The only fish I like is golden fish.
The fish brought by him are so colourful.
There are different species of fishes in this river.
9. Food is uncountable and takes singular verb. The word “foods" is used to refer to particular types of food.
The food served in the hostel was sufficient for me.
Frozen foods are not good for children.
10. Alumnus, alumna and alumni have different meanings.
Alumnus (Singular) = a former male student of a school, college or university
Alumna (Singular) = a former female student of a school, college or university
Alumni (plural) = the former male and female students of a school, college and university. (Pronunciation is not alumni but alumnai /əˈlʌmnaɪ/)
He is an alumnus of our college. Uma is an alumna of our college. They are the alumni of our college.
“If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets.” - Frank Herbert in “The Dune Storybook"
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