Collins Cobuild English Grammar (11 page)

Nouns that are rarely used alone without supporting material are discussed in detail in paragraphs
1.59
to
1.65
.

USAGE NOTE

1.40
    Some nouns are used in the singular with a particular meaning only in an idiomatic phrase. They have the appearance of singular nouns, but they are not used as freely as singular nouns.

What happens down there is
none of my business
.
It’s a pity
I can’t get to him.

Referring to more than one thing: plural nouns

1.41
    There are some things that are considered to be plural rather than singular, so some nouns have only a plural form. For example, you buy
goods
, but not
a good
. These nouns are called
plural nouns
.

Other nouns have only a plural form when they are used with a particular meaning. For example, an official meeting between American and Russian leaders is usually referred to as
talks
rather than as
a talk
. In these meanings, these nouns are also called
plural nouns
.

Union leaders met the company for wage
talks
on October 9.
It is inadvisable to sell
goods
on a sale or return basis.
Take care of your
clothes
.
The weather
conditions
were the same.
All
proceeds
are going to charity.
Employees can have meals on the
premises
.

Note that some plural nouns do not end in
-s
: for example
clergy
,
police
,
poultry
, and
vermin
.

noun–verb agreement

1.42
    When you use a plural noun as the subject of a verb, you use a plural form of the verb.

Expenses
for attending meetings
are
sometimes
claimed
.
The
foundations were shaking
.
Refreshments were
on sale in the café.
Attempts were made where
resources were
available.

use with modifiers

1.43
    You do not usually use numbers in front of plural nouns. You can, however, use some
indefinite determiners
such as
some
or
many
. For more information about the indefinite determiners that can be used with plural nouns, see the section beginning at paragraph
1.223
.

Some plural nouns usually have a definite determiner in front of them, because they are specific; some never have a determiner at all, because they are very general; and some are rarely used alone without extra information in the form of a phrase or a clause, for example, because they need supporting material.

The lists in the following two paragraphs contain some common plural nouns that are frequently used in one of these ways. Many of them have other meanings in which they are countable nouns.

with or without determiners

1.44
    Some plural nouns are most commonly used with
the
.

Things are much worse when
the rains
come.
The authorities
are concerned that the cocaine may be part of an international drug racket.
The coach tour of Gran Canaria was a wonderfully relaxing way to see
the sights
.

Here is a list of plural nouns that are most commonly used with
the
:

authorities

foundations

fruits

heavens

mains

odds

pictures

races

rains

sights

waters

wilds

Some plural nouns are most commonly used with a possessive determiner such as
my
or
his
.

It offended
her feelings
.
My travels
up the Dalmation coast began in Dubrovnik.
This only added to
his troubles
.

Here is a list of plural nouns that are most commonly used with a possessive determiner:

activities

attentions

feelings

likes

movements

reactions

terms

travels

troubles

wants

Some plural nouns are most commonly used without a determiner.

There were one or two cases where people returned
goods
.
There is only one applicant, which simplifies
matters
.
They treated us like
vermin
.

Here is a list of plural nouns that are most commonly used without a determiner:

airs

appearances

events

expenses

figures

goods

matters

refreshments

riches

solids

talks

vermin

Some plural nouns can be used both with or without determiners.

The house was raided by
police
.
We called
the police
.
A luxury hotel was to be used as
headquarters
.
The city has been
his headquarters
for five years.
We didn’t want it to dampen
spirits
which were required to remain positive.
The last few miles really lifted
our spirits
.

Here is a list of plural nouns that can be used with or without a determiner:

arms

basics

brains

clergy

costs

directions

essentials

greens

grounds

handcuffs

headquarters

interests

looks

means

morals

papers

particulars

people

police

poultry

premises

proceeds

rates

resources

specifics

spirits

supplies

talks

thanks

tracks

troops

values

modifiers and other forms of extra information

1.45
    Some plural nouns are rarely used alone without a modifier, or some other form of extra information, because they need supporting material.

He doesn’t tolerate
bad manners
.
Our country’s
coastal defences
need improving.
…the hidden
pressures of direct government funding
.

Here is a list of plural nouns that are rarely used alone without a modifier or some other extra information:

affairs

conditions

defences

demands

details

effects

forces

hopes

lines

manners

materials

matters

pressures

proportions

quarters

relations

remains

sands

services

thoughts

wastes

ways

words

works

writings

typical meanings: clothes and tools

1.46
    Two special groups of nouns are usually plural: nouns referring to clothes and some other things that people wear, and nouns referring to tools and some other things that people use.

This is because some clothes and tools, such as
trousers
and
scissors
, are made up of two similar parts.

She wore brown
trousers
and a green sweater.
He took off his
glasses
.
…using the
pliers
from the toolbox.