UNIT 79. Singular and plural ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 79. Singular and plural

A	Sometimes we use a plural noun for one thing that has two parts. For example: These words are plural, so they take a plural verb: √ My trousers are too long. (not my trousers is) 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 economics electronics politics gymnastics maths (=mathematics) physics Gymnastics is my favourite sport. (not Gymnastics are) News is not plural (see Unit 70B): √ What time is the news on TV? (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: audience company firm staff committee family government team 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) have decided to increase taxes. The staff at the company (=they) are not happy with their working conditions. √ In the same way, we often use a plural verb after the name of a sports team or a company: √ Italy are playing Brazil next Sunday (in a football match). Shell have increased the price of petrol. √ A singular verb (The government wants ... /Shell has ... etc.) is also possible. We use a plural verb with police: √ The police are investigating the crime, but haven't arrested anyone yet. (not The police is ... hasn't) Note that we say a police officer /a policeman /a policewoman (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. (not nice persons) √ Many people don't have enough to eat. (not Many people doesn't)
E	We think of a sum of money, a period of time, a distance etc. as one thing. So we use a singular verb: √ Fifty 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) Two miles isn't very far to walk. √ √

EXERCISES

79.1	Complete each sentence using a word from Sections A or B. Sometimes you need a or some. 1 My eyesight isn't very good. I need ______glasses______. A ____ species_____ is a group of animals or plants that have the same characteristics. Footballers don't wear trousers when they play. They wear____________. The bicycle is ____________of transport. The bicycle and the car are ____________ of transport. 2 3 4 5 6 I want to cut this piece of material. I need ____________. A friend of mine is writing ____________of articles for the local newspaper. There are a lot of American TV ____________shown on TV in Britain. While we were out walking, we saw many ____________of bird. 7 8 9
79.2	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. The beginning of the word is given. 1 calculate algebra equation _____mathematics_______ 2 government election minister P______________________ 3 finance trade employment E______________________ 4 running jumping throwing A______________________ 5 light heat gravity Ph______________________ 6 exercises summersault parallel bars Gy______________________ 7 processor silicon chip gigabyte El______________________
79.3	Choose the correct form of the verb, singular or plural. In two sentences either the singular or plural verb is possible. 1 Gymnastics is /are my favourite sport. (is is correct) The trousers you bought for me doesn't /don't fit me. The police want /wants to interview two men about the robbery last week. Physics was /were my best subject at school. Can I borrow your scissors? Mine isn't /aren't sharp enough. 2 3 4 5 6 It's a nice place to visit. The people is /are very friendly. Fortunately the news wasn't /weren't as bad as we expected. Where does /do your family live? I can't find my binoculars. Do you know where it is /they are? Does /Do the police know how the accident happened? 7 8 9 10 11 Germany is /are playing Spain tomorrow night, but it's not on TV. Most people enjoy /enjoys music. 12
79.4	Most of these sentences are wrong. Correct them where necessary. 1 Three years ago long time to be without a job. The government have decided to increase taxes. Susan was wearing a black jeans. Three years is a long time 2 OK 3 ______________________ 4 I don't like hot weather. Thirty degrees is too hot for me. ______________________ 5 I like Martin and Jane. They're very nice persons. ______________________ 6 Ten pounds aren't enough. I need more money than that. ______________________ 7 I'm going to buy a new pyjama. ______________________ 8 The committee haven't made a decision yet. ______________________ 9 There was a police directing traffic in the street. ______________________ 10 What is the police going to do? ______________________ 11 This scissors isn't very sharp. ______________________ 12 Four days isn't enough for a good holiday. ______________________

ANSWER KEY