N O U N S
SINGULAR/PLURAL
Note: The plural of foot: use foot in front of nouns (a three-foot rod). Foot or feet can be used as the plural when the
words ‘high’, ‘tall’, ‘long’ etc. are present, but for large measurements, such as the height of a mountain, feet is
preferred in all contexts (he’s six foot/feet tall). When these words are absent - even if they could be used - only feet
is used if we do not mention inches (seven feet). When we mention inches, only feet is used if the word ‘inches’ is
present (seven feet four inches), but only foot is used if the word ‘inches’ is absent (seven foot four).
NOUNS–SINGULAR OR PLURAL (supplement to Quirk 5.77)
Grammatical information is given in brackets after the noun:
(pl)=plural noun
(uncount)=uncountable noun
(count)=countable noun; if no additional information is provided, the noun can be used in the singular and
plural forms (-s), like any other regular countable noun
airs (pl)=affected manner
Trudy is always putting on airs and pretending she’s posh.
ashes (pl)=a dead person’s remains
He made me promise to sprinkle his ashes from Putney Bridge.
ash (uncount)=powdery substance left after sth, esp tobacco, coal, or wood, has burnt
cigar/cigarette ash
ashes (pl)=powdery substance left after sth has been destroyed by burning
The house burnt to ashes.
books (pl)=accounts, records of money; the names of people who belong to a club, society etc.
Their books show a profit. The nursery has 30 babies on the books and 13 on the waiting list.
colours (pl)=flag; badge, item of clothing etc. worn to show that one is a member of a team, school, party etc.
I was wearing the team’s colours.
contents (pl)=chapters, sections of a book shown in a list
There is no initial list of contents.
contents (pl)=things in a container such as a bottle, box, room etc.
The customs official rummaged through the contents of the briefcase.
content (uncount)/contents (pl)=the subject, story, ideas in a film, book, speech, television programme etc.
She is reluctant to discuss the content/contents of the play.
content (count, always used in the singular)=the amount of sth that a substance contains
This type of steel has a relatively low carbon content.
costs (pl)=expenses of a court case
The jury found the newspaper guilty of libelling the actress, and she was awarded damages and costs.
costs (pl)=the total amount of money you must spend on running your home or business or a car etc.
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The company admits its costs are still too high. production costs; running costs;
cost (count, usually singular)=the amount of money that is needed in order to buy, do, or make sth
I’ll give you $ 15 to cover the cost of the gas.
cost (uncount)=the loss, damage, sacrifice or injury involved in trying to achieve sth
She has finally got the job she wanted, but at great personal cost.
foundations (pl)=layer of bricks, concrete below the ground
lay the foundations of a school
foundation (count)=an organization which provides money for special purposes
He was the principal of the arts foundation.
foundation (count)=a principle, idea, belief or a fact on which sth is based
controversies that rock the foundations of social and moral life
foundation (uncount)=facts that prove that a story, idea, or argument is true
The allegations were without foundation.
funds (pl)=financial resources, money, esp money given to an organization or person for a particular purpose
The concert will raise funds for research into Aids. government funds
fund (count)=sum of money collected or saved for a particular purpose
a disaster relief fund; a pension fund; The hospital has set up a special fund to buy new equipment.
grounds (pl)=gardens or land around a building; small bits of coffee left at the bottom of the container
the grounds of the University
ground (count, usually used in the plural, especially when it combines with the preposition on)=reason,
justification
Zoe was awarded compensation on the grounds that the doctor had been negligent.
looks (pl)=sb’s appearance, especially how beautiful they are
You get your good looks from your mother.
look (count, used in the singular)=appearance, expression that somebody or something has
Mr Flynn had a tired, ill look in his eyes.
manners (pl)=polite social behaviour
It’s bad manners to stare at people. table manners
manners (pl)=habits and customs of a group of people
18th-century aristocratic manners
manner (count, used in the singular)=way of behaving towards others
She has a calm relaxed manner.
minutes (pl)=written records of what is said at a meeting
Could you take/do the minutes, Daniel?
pains (pl, used in fixed phrases)=effort
I had taken great pains with my appearance. Social workers went to great pains to acknowledge men’s domestic
rights.
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savings (pl)=money you have saved, esp in a bank
a savings account
saving (count)=amount of money, time not used or wasted
achieve big savings on fuel through greater efficiency; a great saving of time and money
spirits (count, usually used in the plural)=strong alcoholic drink
I don’t drink whisky or brandy or any other spirits.
spirits (pl)=feelings of (un)happiness at a particular time
be in good/low/high spirits
spirit (uncount)=courage, determination; energy; feeling of loyalty to a group, team etc;
team spirit; fighting spirit; Our team played with great spirit.
values (pl)=moral principles and beliefs which control your behaviour
family/moral/traditional values
value (uncount)=usefulness, importance
Further studies will be needed to see if these therapies have any value.
EXERCISE I. CORRECT OR NOT?
1. The hall has a fine acoustic.
2. This novel may well become a classic.
3. Economics has become an increasingly popular course at university.
4. Refugee workers said such action was a violation of medical ethic.
5. The mechanic of staging a play is very complicated.
6. Their politics at that time were much more left-wing than they are now.
7. I felt I was no longer treated as a person but as a statistic.
8. It’s not a tactics I’ve used before and it may not be the best one.
9. The length of the war is one of the biggest unknowns.
10. I was sent out to buy two scissors.
11. Sunflower margarine has the same fat contents as butter.
12. Because of the engine’s efficiency the car has a very low running cost.
13. The driver managed not to hit the child who ran in front of his car, but only at the costs of injuring himself.
14. The politician was awarded 50 000 pounds damages over false allegations made by the newspaper.
15. The scandal has shaken/rocked the Democratic party to its foundation.
16. The architect inspected the foundation before declaring that the premises were safe.
17. He retired from the job on health ground.
18. I went to the headquarter but a guy there said I didn’t have a good enough look to be famous.
19. Fill in the form below and you will be making a saving of 6.60 pounds on a one-year subscription.
20. He has a weakly wage of 200 pounds.
21. Poultry has gone up in price.
22. This series on TV are very good.
23. I have ten staff working for me.
24. The puppy, which may have rabies, is at a quarantine kennels.
EXERCISE II. CHOOSE THE CORRECT FORM.
1. Her acrobatics was/were greeted with loud applause.
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2. The economics behind their policies is/are unreasonable.
3. We are only too ready to believe that ethics is/are a field where thinking does no good.
4. Politics is/are a subtle business.
5. Statistics shows/show that far more people are able to ride a bicycle than can drive a car.
6. Mumps is/are an unpleasant ailment.
7. I’ve been studying village records in the local archive/archives.
8. He brushed the cigarette ash/ashes from his sleeve.
9. So congratulations is/are due to Michael Heseltine.
10. The letter’s content was / contents were not disclosed.
11. Bellisario won the case and was awarded cost/costs.
12. The new tax measures mean that the cost/costs of goods will rise again.
13. His gentleness of manner/manners conceals a steely determination.
14. The outskirts of the town is/are rather dull.
15. The orchestra performed the Rite of Spring with great spirit/spirits.
16. Ours is/are a great people, isn’t it/aren’t they?
17. Splendid cattle was/were grazing on the hillside.
18. The report confirms livestock is/are forced to travel more than 40 hours.
19. The data was/were collected by various researchers.
20. The media is/are to blame for starting the rumours.
21. This/These family needs/need help.
22. My family is/are large.
23. The public has/have a right to know what money is being spent in its name.
24. Thomas was thought to be in Spain, although his exact whereabouts was/were unknown.
25. She’s five foot/feet three inches.
26. Astronomers have noticed a number of strange phenomena/phenomenas/phenomenons in the sky recently.
27. They had to drill through many different rock startums/strata.
28. Two referendums/referenda were held on this issue.
29. The ticket costs two pound/pounds fifty.
30. This pair of scissors is/are broken.
EXERCISE III. SINGULAR OR PLURAL WORDS
chassis, proceeds, provisions, accused, means, coat of arms, dozen, darts, lens, summons, gasworks, dregs, suds,
species, environs, eaves, barracks, surroundings, alms, crossroads, embers, quoits, rabies, remains, craft, dice,
skittles, Japanese, offspring, debris, fish, Swiss, veg, wildfowl, clergy
EXERCISE IV. UNDERLINE THE WORDS WHICH END IN -IES IN THE PLURAL
baby, donkey, pigsty, soliloquy, stand-by, valley, Germany, tray, Henry
EXERCISE V. ARRANGE INTO THREE GROUPS
elf, dwarf, roof, cuff, leaf, scarf, wolf, thief, safe, wharf, hoof, calf, turf
Plural in -fs only:
Plural in -ves only:
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Plural in both -fs and -ves:
EXERCISE VI. WHAT IS THE PLURAL FORM?
man eater, poet laureate, spoonful, necropolis, good-for-nothing, commander-in-chief, knight errant, onlooker,
Justice of the Peace, girl guide, governor general, sheep, heir apparent, bamboo, coat of arms, also-ran, deer, pushup, hanger-on, salmon, louse, Knight Templar, metropolis, court martial, hand-me-down, schema, cherub, medium,
index, appendix, point of view, fool’s errand, whisky-and-soda, add-on, VIP, St, p
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