3. Nouns Used only in the Singular

There are some nouns in English that can be used only in the singular. That means:

• we cannot use them with the indefinite article (a money, a news, etc.);

• we substitute them with the pronoun it: the advice is… – it is;

• we use the singular verb: the advice is/was/has/does, etc.

We can classify such nouns into several groups.

1. Names of some games: billiards, dominoes, draughts, darts, bowls, etc.

2. Names of subjects/activities: physics, economics, classics, gymnastics, aerobics, athletics, linguistics, maths, politics, etc.

Note 1: Nouns ending in –ics when they don’t mean academic subjects take a plural verb. Examples are:

Your statistics are unreliable.

Your phonetics are good.

3. Names of diseases: diabetes, measles, mumps etc.

4. Cities and countries: Athens, Brussels, Naples, Wales

5. Uncountable nouns: information, advice, furniture, knowledge, equipment, progress, weather, homework, work, luggage, research, accommodation, money, currency, travel, applause, hair, etc.

Note 1: Some nouns in English can be both countable and uncountable depending on the meaning:

Uncountable	Countable
Grammar is difficult for me.	You should borrow a grammar of English (a textbook) from the library.
He gives all his leisure time to study.	I would like to have a study (room) in my new flat.
Time flies.	I'll do it another time (occasions).
Air is necessary for life.	There was an air (look) of importance about him.
It was hard work getting to the mountain.	This is a new work (book) on modern art.
We all learn by experience.	It was an unpleasant experience (event).
She has long curly hair.	Yuck! There is a hair in the plate.

4. Nouns Used only in the Plural

1. Tools, instruments, pieces of equipment that consist of two parts: scissors, pliers, pincers, tweezers, tongs, binoculars, scales, handcuffs, shears, glasses, spectacles

2. Things we wear that consist of two parts: clothes, pyjamas, shorts, trousers, tights, braces, trunks, dungarees, leggings, jodhpurs, knickers, underpants, jeans, pants

3. Other nouns to remember: cattle, military, clergy, gentry, poultry, police, vermin, people, staff, the rich, the poor, the homeless, arms, wages, customs, thanks, holidays, lodgings, goods, foundations, premises, authorities, acoustics, contents, looks, outskirts, surroundings, traffic-lights, stairs, proceeds, whereabouts, belongings, savings, brains (=intellect), congratulations, earnings, manners, headphones, etc.

Note 1: Nouns like crossroads, headquarters, kennels, series, species and works (=factory) are singular when they refer to one, and they are plural when they refer to more than one. Examples are:

• This species of moth is rare.

• There are thousands of species.

Note 2: Some nouns are used only in the plural in Russian but have two forms in English depending on the number of objects they denote: a watch – watches, a sledge – sledges, a gate – gates, etc.