Questions tagged [singular]

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2 answers
114 views

Is the sentence "Fast food or processed foods at convenience stores, for example, causes harm…" right in terms of grammar?

Fast food or processed foods at convenience stores, for example, causes harm to the development of adolescents due to its high-fat levels. Is this sentence grammatically correct? The verb causes ...
1 vote
2 answers
219 views

Indefinite article + singluar noun to refer to a group/type of thing in general

My understanding is when referring to a type of thing in general we can either use the plural form or a singular with the definite article. For example: The tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable. Or ...
0 votes
1 answer
73 views

"a lot of" preceding a singular countable noun

I'm wondering whether "much of" can be replaced by "a lot of" to mean "a large proportion of" when the following noun is singular and countable. Many nouns have both ...
0 votes
1 answer
41 views

Someone calls or someone call

I read that someone is used with singular verb but l come across with this example : Someone call an ambulance. Is it correct? It shouldn't be "someone calls an ambulance"?! Or in another ...
1 vote
1 answer
100 views

Is the sentence "Each of my brothers wants his own car" correct?

Each of my brothers wants his own car I already know that each is always paired with singular but is the usage of "his" correct? Should it be "their" or "it"?
0 votes
1 answer
30 views

Those students want to become a teacher/teachers. - are both of them acceptable? [closed]

Example 1 Those students want to become a teacher. Example 2 Those students want to become teachers. Are both correct? Do they mean the same? Example 1 may sound a little bit unnatural but I have ...
3 votes
5 answers
70k views

Is "most people" singular or plural?

When using the word "most" before the word "people", should the verb which comes after them should be referred as a singular or plural? For example: What would the most people know about ...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

I'm suspicious about ONLY ONE thing. Do I have a doubt or doubts then? [duplicate]

The question rooted from the comment of J.R. on this question here. He edited my answer making 'a doubt' 'doubts'. In the comment it's mentioned that if I'm suspicious about something, generally it's ...
0 votes
0 answers
10 views

I have never repaired my "car/cars" like that -and I only have one car at a time - the same meaning?

‎"I have had three cars in my life. I have never had my car/cars repaired that way." Also assume I only had one car at a time. Do both of them mean the same?
2 votes
1 answer
58 views

Use plural of singular when referring to plural thing being the superlative of something

I have a sentence that requires a form of "to be" referring to something in singular and plural at the same time: The major source for pharmaceutical residues in rivers [is/are] wastewater ...
2 votes
1 answer
19 views

Import level(s): singular or plural

The graph shows the volume of seafood imports in the US from 2000 to 2020, along with a prediction for 2030. The US seafood import market grew substantially in the past 20 years, but in the future ...
7 votes
4 answers
41k views

Is it common for British English speakers to use "us" instead of "me"?

If someone is keeping a secret, in the US one might say "tell me!" However, I was in the UK and I heard a person say "tell us!" although she did not appear to be with anyone. Am I misunderstanding or ...
0 votes
2 answers
102 views

Are plural-only and singular-only nouns always uncountable?

As far as I understand, based on the literal meanings of the words "countable" and "uncountable": A noun is called countable when it can be counted, i.e. can be used with cardinal ...
0 votes
1 answer
39 views

How to use "be : was or were " for as if/as though ( the unreal information in the present)

For As if/As though, if the sentence expresses the information which is unreal in the present, we use "past subjunctive" and to be : were for all the subjects? Is it correct or incorrect? ...
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

Is "Her hair is in a pigtail" (singular) used in British English?

The British say "Her hair is in a plait" (picture 1) but "Her hair is in pigtails" (picture 2). Americans say "Her hair is in a braid" (No.1) and "Her hair is in ...
-1 votes
1 answer
91 views

Why do we say I like apples when we want to talk about our favourite fruit but for some of the fruits like watermelon we use singular from?

My question is about using singular and plural form of nouns after I like.
1 vote
3 answers
62 views

Adjective nouns

I have a problem forming the correct singular and plural forms of adjective nouns, e.g. (the) old(s), her young(s), (the) red(s), (the) relative(s), (the) saint(s), (the) possible(s), (the) sick(s). ...
0 votes
3 answers
3k views

Combine singular and plural form of 'party'

Recently I came across following sentence on a form at a client's intranet: Enter the domain name(s) of the external party(s) you want to share with. Except for the fact that the sentence doesn't ...
2 votes
5 answers
743 views

Does an indefinite-article mean always 'one'?

Suppose I am an event organiser and while conducting a game I announce that - "Whoever wins this game, I will get him a chocolate". Here I used the word 'a chocolate' so does it mean 'one chocolate' ...
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the difference between "a park" and "the park" [duplicate]

What is the difference between "a park" and "the park". Except the fact that we use "a" when we mention a park in the first time and then we need "the" when we ...
0 votes
1 answer
21 views

a copy of certificate

I want to ask people to attach a copy of supporting document. Please attach a copy of certificate confirming those facts stated above. Is "certificate" singular and does it need any ...
0 votes
2 answers
170 views

What follows a mass noun followed by a list with several items?

Equipment are gloves and glasses. Equipment is gloves and glasses. //The translation has been approved, but I am only the editor, I have to work with grammar, interpunction but cannot change the ...
7 votes
5 answers
3k views

Plural and singular nouns: do "A cat is an animal" and "Cats are animals" mean the same thing?

A cat is an animal. Cats are animals. Do the two sentences mean exactly the same thing? If not, what are the differences and how do you use them?
0 votes
0 answers
32 views

When to use singular or plural for countable words?

Main point is regarding the last sentence about the avocado. Here is an example: "A long time ago sushi was not popular to Westerners because they did not like to eat raw fish. Alternatively, ...
-1 votes
2 answers
96 views

Arugula plural or singular? [closed]

I've got this question in my mind. Is 'arugula' a plural name or singular? If it is plural does anybody know the singular form like arugulum or something like that? (well, it might be archaic, ...
1 vote
1 answer
30 views

What is the reason to not use s after a countable noun?

I'm questioning about this sentence below: How do you make this machine work? I took that sentence from my exercise book. So, why didn't they put "s" after "work". Isn't this ...
0 votes
1 answer
93 views

I want to mention a singular platform but imply impact of plural things. Can I use this in the sentence?

Platforms like this are very helpful. Or should I have to use "these"?
1 vote
0 answers
98 views

Is it correct to combine a singular and plural form of a word this way?

I have a question. Is it correct to combine a singular and plural form of a word this way? For this purpose, the Manager should agree with the security officers (a) codeword(s). My problem is that ...
1 vote
1 answer
7k views

"As follows" vs "as follow"

When we want to write something (often lists or points), we say: the main points are as follows: Abc Def Ghi "Points" is plural but we still write "follows". Why is it not "...
1 vote
1 answer
279 views

What is the difference between "percent" and "percentages"?

I don't know what the difference between "percent" and "percentage" is. Do they mean two different things and do they have different uses? I would like to know what kind of ...
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the difference between at the age of and at the ages of?

What is the difference between at the age of and at the ages of? singular noun and plural noun? Please tell me the difference.
1 vote
1 answer
36 views

Why is 'group' used as plurals?

If a group consists of 5 members and the group is jumping, why should all of 5 members be jumping to express the group is jumping? I mean 'group' is a singular so can't I say 'a group is jumping' even ...
0 votes
2 answers
68 views

There's a quadruple circle

A picture above two pictures shows a quadruple circle. Can I describe the two picture below the first picture 'there's half of a quadruple circle'? this picture is additional to the original post.
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

When "education" should be a singular noun and when should it be an uncountable noun?

Cambridge dictionary states that "education" can be both a singular noun like "an education" and an uncountable noun like "zero-article education". As far as I know it depends whether the context is ...
0 votes
2 answers
298 views

Types of metal or types of metals [duplicate]

Which one of these examples is correct? Types of metal Types of metals Do they have different meanings?
0 votes
1 answer
35 views

are the kinds of

a. Those are the kind of bird that live around this marsh and mate in the summer. b. Those are the kinds of birds that live around this marsh and mate in the summer. c. Those are the kind of birds ...
10 votes
5 answers
7k views

Is it grammatically correct to use "them" with hair?

My hair is short so I'm growing them for my wedding Is it grammatically correct to use "them" with hair?
0 votes
0 answers
1k views

Singular VS Plural Is/are

Which one is correct: Flowers is a good present. Or Flowers are a good present. Or The best present for me is flowers. Or The best present for me are flowers.
-1 votes
2 answers
367 views

singular nouns that are plural in form [closed]

Could you come up with as many singular nouns that are plural in form as possible? Examples include "a woods" and "a golf links." I don't want names of diseases and fields of study. I'd appreciate ...
1 vote
3 answers
7k views

Man or a/the man?

What I know is that singular common noun 'man' denotes the human being in general sense. In that sense, no article is needed before it, nor should we use the plural form 'men' : "MAN IS MORTAL". (NOT, ...
0 votes
1 answer
172 views

A mixture of things that offer/offers

A mixture of things that offer Or, A mixture of things that offers It is not obvious to me which one is correct because mixture is singular but things is plural.
5 votes
5 answers
50k views

If 'Social Media' is uncountable and plural, why do we say 'Social media is...'?

This all began when I saw Grammarly giving me a red line on the verb has. My sentence, as I remember roughly, was... Social media has all potential to make your products and services popular The ...
0 votes
1 answer
282 views

Generic nouns plural/singular: Difficulties for ESL speakers

I work in Montreal, Canada with a great group of first-language French speakers, who are nevertheless very articulate in English. However what thing that comes up, again and again, is the pluralizing ...
5 votes
2 answers
26k views

Describe the difference(s) between A and B

When writing an exam question, are the followings imply very different things? Does (1) imply there is only one difference? I think (2) implies there may be multiple differences, but describing only ...
1 vote
0 answers
39 views

Can we use singular pronoun for referring to "everyone"?

If both sentences are true, how can we justify them? Can we use singular pronoun for referring to "everyone"? I bet everyone regardless of genders can find at least one item [they love]. I bet ...
0 votes
0 answers
59 views

any singular + any plural + verb?

I have the following sentence: It shows up when any organization or preset settings are saved. It uses any with a singular noun (organization) then comes a plural noun (settings), should be ...
0 votes
1 answer
988 views

The question/questions which one is this? or which ones are these?

Consider a sentence below. The question/questions "which one is this?" or "which ones are these?" force an identifying response. I am confused. Should I use "the question" or "the questions?" ...
1 vote
1 answer
130 views

“during his freshman and sophomore {year/years}”

Should year be singular or plural in the following example? As a bass fisherman, during his freshman and sophomore year, Bob was challenged by his lack of experience in the fishing arena but never ...
5 votes
4 answers
6k views

The cost savings "are" or "is" 50%?

I wonder if I should use are or is in the following sentence: The cost savings ____ 50%? Or should I just say the cost savings percentage is 50%. Thanks
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there any term used to denote singular and plural form

In our Nepali language a term वचन(read as: bachan) is used to denote singular and plural form. Is there any term used for this in English? What do I mean is : Singular -> one Plural -> more ...