How to Use Singular and Plural Forms (Part Two)

Abstract

This contribution is the second part of the article on how to use singular and plural forms initiated in the previous journal issue. The use of said forms is often context-dependent. The examples provided below are for nouns ending in -s. Some nouns with identical plural and singular forms (irregular plurals like series, species, etc.) can be: - singular (a series, a species); - plural/countable (different series, many species); - uncountable (Balmer series (physics), type species (biology), used in a particular sense). However, certain uncountable nouns require a singular verb such as: billiards, darts, dominoes, mumps, news, shingles. Also, certain plural nouns require a plural verb such as: arms, clothes, contents, customs, glasses, goods, groceries, jeans, means, outskirts, pants, pyjamas, scissors, spectacles, surroundings, thanks, tidings, trousers.