Unit 5.

Singular, plural, and collective nouns

(,
)
Main points
Singular nouns are used only in the singular, always with a determiner.
Plural nouns are used only in the plural, some with a determiner.
Collective nouns can be used with singular or plural verbs.
1. Some nouns are used in particular meanings in the singular with a determiner, like count nouns, but are not
used in the plural with that meaning. They are often called "singular nouns".
Some of these nouns are normally used with "the" because they refer to things that are unique.
air
country
countryside
dark

daytime
end
future
ground

moon
past
sea
seaside

sky
sun
wind
world

The sun was shining.

I am scared of the dark.
Other singular nouns are normally used with "a" because they refer to things that we usually talk about one at a
time.
bath
chance
drink
fight

go
jog
move
rest

ride
run
shower
smoke

snooze
start
walk
wash

I went upstairs and had a wash.

Why don't we go outside for a smoke?
2. Some nouns are used in particular meanings in the plural with or without determiners, like count nouns, but
are not used in the singular with that meaning. They are often called "plural nouns".
His clothes looked terribly dirty.
Troops are being sent in today.
Some of these nouns are always used with determiners.
activities
authorities

feelings
likes

pictures
sights

travels

I went to the pictures with Tina.

You hurt his feelings.
Some are usually used without determiners.
airs
expenses

goods
refreshments

riches

Refreshments are available inside.

They have agreed to pay for travel and expenses.
WARNING: "Police" is a plural noun, but does not end in "-s".
The police were informed immediately.
3. A small group of plural nouns refer to single items that have two linked parts. They refer to things that people
wear or tools that people use.
glasses

pyjamas

scales

jeans
knickers
pants

shorts
tights
trousers

binoculars
pincers
pliers

scissors
shears
tweezers

She was wearing brown trousers.

These scissors are sharp.
You can use "a pair of" to make it clear you are talking about one item, or a number with "pairs of" when you
are talking about several items.
I was sent out to buy a pair of scissors.
Liza had given me three pairs of jeans.
Note that you also use "a pair of" with words such as "gloves", "shoes", and "socks" that you often talk about in
twos.
4. With some nouns that refer to a group of people or things, the same form can be used with singular or plural
verbs, because you can think of the group as a unit or as individuals. Similarly, you can use singular or plural
pronouns to refer back to them. These nouns are often called "collective nouns".
army
audience
committee
company
crew

enemy
family
flock
gang
government

group
herd
navy
press
public

staff
team
data
media

The names of many organizations and sports teams are also collective nouns, but are normally used with plural
verbs in spoken English.
The pack is drawing near.
takes its losses hard.
little group is complete again.
largest group are the boys.
isn't poor any more.
normal.
programme on Saturday.
new satellite.
Liverpool are attacking again

The team
Our
The
Our family
My family are perfectly
The BBC is showing the
The BBC are planning to use the
Liverpool is leading 1-0.

The class (describes, describe) their vacations.

The whole class (meet, meets) at 3 PM.
The family (takes, take) a trip to Houghton Lake, Michigan.
The chess club (compare, compares) their strategies so as to win the tournament.
The swarm of reporters (engulfs, engulf) the famous actor all at once.
The audience (cheer, cheers) the winner of the million dollars.
The orchestra (performs, perform) my favorite music.
The baseball team (practice, practices) together every evening.
The public (support, supports) the travel baseball league.
The troop (disappears, disappear) in different directions.
The crowd (moves, move) to their favorite places along the parade route.
Our team (has,have) won( its ,their) first trophy
Our team (is,are) deciding on the strategy for their next game.
The full orchestra led by (its,their) new conductor (is ,are) performing in the city.
The orchestra (does,do) not agree to the venue for( its,their )next performance.
The audience (shows,show) (its ,their) approval by clapping and cheering.
When the curtain comes down, the audience (begins,begin) leaving (its,their) seats.

This organization (put, puts)on a barbecue every summer.

The flute ensemble (is, are) tuning (its, their)instruments.
The team (is, are) putting on their helmets.
The flute ensemble (is, are)playing at the Kiwanis Music Festival.
Martin's family (plan, plans) to vacation in Haida Gwaii this summer.
A huge swarm of locusts (have, has)destroyed the crops.
The pack of dogs (was,were)running off in different directions.
The police (is, are) looking for the man who robbed the bank.
Every fall, the English class (write,writes)book reports on (its,their)summer reading.
The stage crew (has, have) completed the scenery.
The orchestra (was, were) tuning up one by one.
For weeks, the cast (was, were) rehearsing their lines with one another
The audience (was,were) enthusiastic.
Our team( is,are) definitely the best.
The jury( is,are) deliberating.
The crew (is,are) all wearing their new uniform.
The tour group (is / are) arguing among (itself / themselves) about where to eat dinner.
The tour group (is / are) going to spend (its / their) first night in Paris.
The class (has / have) been told to put down (its / their) pencils when (it has / they have) finished the exam.
The class (is / are) working on (its / their) project for the school science fair.

1. class - individuals - (see the word, their...hint to plural) describe

2. class - one group - singular - meets
3. family - one group - singular - takes
4. club - individuals - (their) - plural - compare
5. swarm - individuals - plural - engulf
6. audience - group - singular - cheers
7. orchestra - group - singular - performs
8. team - group - singular - practices
9. public - group - singular - supports
10. troop - individuals - plural - disappear
11. crowd - individuals - plural - move
12. team - individuals - plural - are
13. crew - group - singular - has
14. orchestra - individual - (one by one) - plural - were
15. cast - individual - (one another) - plural - were