A Handy Guide to
Some nouns are plural in form, although the things that they refer to can be thought of as single entities. Others can be referred to as either single or plural entities. These are grouped together as either binary or aggregate nouns. The following definitions and lists are adapted from Greenbaum and Randolph (1990).
Binary Nouns | Aggregate Nouns
Binary Nouns
Binary nouns refer to objects that can be
thought of as having two parts. Although the noun takes a plural form,
the object itself is a single entity.
Example: Joe always wears sunglasses because he thinks that they make him look cool.
Often these nouns are referred to as a pair of something. In this case, the verb form is singular:
Example: This pair of scissors isn't very sharp.
Most binary nouns can be
grouped as 1) tools or instruments; 2) articles of clothing worn on the
lower half of the body; or 3) optical lenses.
|
Sunglasses |
goggles |
scissors |
leggings |
pantyhose |
|
binoculars |
forceps |
tweezers |
overalls |
shorts |
|
glasses |
pliers |
jeans |
pants |
tights |
Aggregate Nouns
Aggregate nouns are similar to collective nouns in that they refer to single collections that are made up of similar individual parts. For example, email and radio are both individual components of communications. However, unlike collective nouns, aggregate nouns usually use plural verb forms and have no singular forms. They cannot be used with a or an.
Example: With the development of the Internet, communications are being revolutionized at a dizzying speed.
Many aggregate nouns have plural forms, but many also are not plural in form, though they use plural verb forms.
Example: The police are still looking for the Olympic Park bomber.
Some aggregate nouns can use either singular or plural verb forms:
Example:
The data [is/are] inconclusive on that point.
|
Plural in Form |
Singular in Form |
|
Communications |
cattle |
|
arms |
clergy |
|
data |
police |
|
goods |
offspring |
|
media |
people |
|
outskirts |
poultry |
|
remains |
vermin |
|
troops |
intelligentsia |
|
barracks |
majority |
|
dregs |
swine |
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