079 : Singular and plural

   A   

Sometimes we use a plural noun for one thing that has two parts. For example:

 

These words are plural, so they take a plural verb:

• My trousers are too long. (not my trousers is)

You can also use a pair of + these words:

• Those are nice jeans. or That's a nice pair of jeans. (not a nice jeans)
• I need some new glasses. or I need a new pair of glasses.

 

 

   B   

Some nouns end in -ics, but are not usually plural. For example:

 

athletics      economics      electronics      gymnastics         maths (= mathematics)      physics           politics

• Gymnastics is my favourite sport. (not Gymnastics are)

News is not plural (see Unit 70B):

• What time is the news on TV? (not are the news)

 

Some words ending in -s can be singular or plural. For example:

 

means	a means of transport, many means of transport
series	a television series, two television series
species	a species of bird, 200 species of bird

 

 

   C   

Some singular nouns are often used with a plural verb. For example:

 

audience        committee          company        family           firm                government        staff                team

 

These nouns are all groups of people. We often think of them as a number of people (= they), not as one thing (= it). So we often use a plural verb:

• The government (= they) have decided to increase taxes.
• The staff at the company (= they) are not happy with their working conditions.

In the same way, we often use a plural verb after the name of a sports team or a company:

• Italy are playing Brazil next Sunday (in a football match).
• Shell have increased the price of petrol.

 

A singular verb (The government wants ... / Shell has .. . etc.) is also possible.

 

We use a plural verb with police:

• The police are investigating the crime, but haven't arrested anyone yet. (not The police is ... hasn't)

 

Note that we say a police officer / a policeman / a policewoman (not a police).

 

 

   D   

We do not often use the plural of person ('persons'). We normally use people (a plural word):

• He's a nice person. but  They are nice people. (not nice persons)
• Many people don't have enough to eat. (not Many people doesn't)

 

 

   E   

We think of a sum of money, a period of time, a distance etc. as one thing. So we use a singular verb:

• Fifty thousand pounds (= it) was stolen in the robbery. (not were stolen)
• Three years (= it) is a long time to be without a job. (not Three years are)
• Two miles isn't very far to walk.

 

 

 

 (American English -> Appendix 7) 

 

79C

BRITISH Nouns like government/team/family etc. can have a singular or plural verb: The team is/are playing well.

AMERICAN These nouns normally take a singular verb in American English: The team is playing well.

 

 

 

※ gymnastics : 

 

 

 

 

※ means : 

 

 

intermediary : a. 중계의, 중재의 / n. 중계인, 중재자

(origin) inter(=between) + mediary(=middle)

(cf.) intermediate : 중간의 / 중급자

 

intermediary : adjective 

 

1. helping other people or organizations to make an agreement by being a means of communication between them

• to play an intermediary role in the dispute

 

2. located or happening between two places, times or stages

• an intermediary stage of development
• Mountains were seen as an intermediary realm between heaven and earth. // realm : 영역

 

intermediary : noun (= mediator) 

intermediary (between A and B) 

1. a person or an organization that helps other people or organizations to make an agreement by being a means of communication between them

• Financial institutions act as intermediaries between lenders and borrowers.

 

means : ('intermadiary') 수단, 방법

• Email is a highly effective means of communication.
• We needed to get to London but we had no means of transport.
• Have you any means of identification?
• Is there any means of contacting him?
• Interest rates are used as a means of controlling borrowing. // interest rates : 이자율, 금리
• They are using peaceful means to achieve their aims.
• Music is the best means we have to reach a wide audience.

 

(Idioms)

by all means ​: 

used to say that you are very willing for somebody to have something or do something (마음껏?)

• ‘Do you mind if I have a look?’ ‘By all means.’ // (have a look : 살펴보다)

 

by means of something :

with the help of something

• The load was lifted by means of a crane.

 

by no means | not by any (manner of) mean

= ​not at all

• She is by no means an inexperienced teacher.
• We haven't won yet, not by any means.

 

 

 

※ mean :

 

mean : ('intermadiary, mind') 

 

1. (verb) 의미하다, 의도하다(=intend), 수반하다(어떤 결과를 가져오다)

 

2. (adjective) 인색한, 박한(야박한)

 

3. (noun) 중간치, 평균(=average)

mean (between A and B) 

• He needed to find a mean between frankness and rudeness.