Types of Nouns

After R. Quirk, S. Greenbaum, G. Leech, J. Svartvik,  A Grammar of Contemporary English, London: Longman, 1985 [1972]: 129

 

Singularia tantum (sg. t.): Nouns always used in the singular: 

  • news
  • measles, mumps, rickets, rabies, hives, shingles 
  • linguistics, mathematics, genetics, politics, ceramics
  • billiards, darts, draughts, checkers, dominoes

 

Pluralia tantum (pl. t.): Nouns always used in the plural:

  • tongs, pincers, pliers, tweezers, scissors, shears; glasses, spectacles; trousers, pants, tights, braces, suspenders (nouns denoting objects with two parts)
  • attentions, airs, arms, colours, guts, spirits, customs (nouns with differentiated plurals)
  • amends, annals, banns, goods, dregs

 

 

NB! Collective nouns can be used both in the singular and in the plural): family, police, clergy, army, flock, herd

Last modified: Thursday, 2 October 2025, 10:30 AM