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You are here: Home / English lessons / English nouns that only have a plural form

English nouns that only have a plural form

16th November 2018 by Andrew

Certain English nouns only have a plural form. The form is always plural. Never singular.

There are 3 types of nouns where the form is always plural:

  1. Certain articles of clothing.
  2. Certain tools or instruments.
  3. Other types.

Let’s look at each type in detail.

Certain articles of clothing

The following articles of clothing only have a plural form:


trousers
knickers
pyjamas
shorts
tights
pants

Examples:

trousers
I like your trousers. correct
I like your trouser. wrong

shorts
by John Kasawa | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Where are my shorts? correct
Where are my short? wrong
Where is my short? wrong

Certain tools and instruments.

The following tools and instruments only have a plural form:

headphones
scissors
sunglasses
binoculars
glasses

Examples:

headphones
Can I borrow your headphones? correct
Can I borrow your headphone? wrong

man sunglasses

Where did you buy your sunglasses? correct
Where did you buy your sunglass? wrong

“pair of”

We use the following structure for ONE unit (singular) of the clothes and tools previously mentioned:

“pair of” + noun

Examples:

I need a pair of shorts. correct
I need a short. wrong
I need a shorts. wrong

pair of glasses

I only have one pair of glasses. correct
I only have one glass. wrong
I only have one glasses. wrong

“pairs of”

We use the following structure for several units (plural):

“pairs of” + noun

Examples:

3 pairs of shorts
by John Kasawa | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am going to buy 3 pairs of shorts. correct
I am going to buy 3 shorts. wrong

pairs of tights

Here are lots of pairs of tights. correct

Other nouns with only a plural form

belongings
Meaning: Personal things that belong to you. (bag, hat, glasses, scarf)
Example:
Teacher: Do not leave your belongings in the classroom.

savings
Meaning: Money in your bank account. You are saving the money for the future.
Example:
I spent my savings on a new car.

clothes
Meaning:  General word for a collection of articles of clothing.
Example:
His clothes are dirty.

stairs
Example:
To go to the first floor, you can take the stairs.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Zulfiqar says

    17th November 2018 at 3:25 pm

    Your Site is really fantastic. I cannot afford your fee , otherwise your way of teaching is excellent.

  2. Nandani says

    8th July 2020 at 6:11 pm

    Thanks, I took many nouns from different websites but I found your best one!!!!!

  3. Kunal says

    14th July 2020 at 4:13 am

    Noun that are used in always plural from

  4. Emmanuel P. Suah says

    4th July 2021 at 4:35 am

    Your site is a great resource for teachers- especially non-native speakers.

    I especially enjoy the differences between standard British English and standard American English in many of your lessons.

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