Nouns change their form in order to show whether they indicate one person or thing (singular number), or more than one (plural number). To this rule a few nouns are exceptions, and in deciding whether to use one of these as singular or as plural, we must go by the meaning.

Note. The singular form of collective nouns is sometimes to be regarded as singular and sometimes as plural. See page 154.

Athletics, used to include several sports or exercises, is frequently plural. Politics, as the name of a profession, is singular. Mathematics, as the name of a science, is singular. News is singular.

Some nouns, however, are always plural; for example, assets, bellows, dregs, eaves, pincers, scissors, tidings.

In forming the plurals of proper names, we say the Messrs. Johnson, the Misses Walker.

The fundamental part of a compound word takes the plural ending; for example, mothers-in-law, men-of-war. Two spoons full calls attention to the spoons; two spoonfuls, to the measure.

Plurals Of Foreign Nouns

We have in our language many Latin and Greek nouns, which we pronounce like English words but spell like the originals. There is a tendency to form the plurals of such foreign nouns as if they were English. The following, which are confusing to persons who have not studied these languages, are worth remembering. Some of them have two plurals.

Exercises

202. Write sentences in which these words are used as the subjects of verbs in the singular number: athletics, politics, mathematics, news. .

203. Write sentences in which these words are used as the subjects of verbs in the plural number: assets, bellows, dregs, eaves, pincers, scissors, tidings.