English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 84: Words that only occur in the plural

Word List
  • athletics
  • authorities
  • billiards
  • binoculars
  • bowls
  • braces
  • cards
  • classics
  • clothes
  • contents
  • darts
  • dominoes
  • draughts
  • dungarees
  • earphones
  • economics
  • foundations
  • glasses
  • goggles
  • goods
  • gymnastics
  • handcuffs
  • headphones
  • headquarters
  • jeans
  • knickers
  • leggings
  • lodgings
  • looks
  • means
  • news
  • outskirts
  • overalls
  • pants
  • physics
  • pliers
  • premises
  • proceeds
  • scales
  • scissors
  • series
  • shears
  • shorts
  • spaghetti
  • spectacles
  • stairs
  • swimming trunks
  • tights
  • tongs
  • traffic lights
  • trousers
  • trunks
  • tweezers
  • underpants
  • whereabouts
  • acoustics
Exercises

84.1 ‣ Which things listed on the opposite page can be used to:

  1. cut a hedge?
  2. help you to read small print?_____
  3. cut paper? _____
  4. hold your trousers up? _____
  5. protect your clothes if you're repairing a car? _____
  6. look at distant objects? _____
  7. get a nail out of a piece of wood? _____
  8. keep a prisoner's hands together? _____

84.2 ‣ Name the items on the clothes line and tick the words that are only used in the plural.

  1. _____
  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____
  6. _____

84.3 ‣ Fill the gaps with an appropriate plural-form noun.

  1. (to a child) Come on! Get your on! It's time to go to bed.
  2. The _____ of the rock concert are going to two charities.
  3. The _____ in the new concert hall are superb. I've never heard such clear sound.
  4. The escaped prisoner is tall, dark and has a beard. His _____ are unknown.
  5. You must use _____ or _____ if you want to listen to your MP3 player on a train.
  6. The _____ have forbidden the import of all foreign _____.

84.4 ‣ Odd one out. In each group, one of the nouns is always used in the plural. Which one?

  1. sock, trouser, slipper -
  2. billiard, squash, tennis - _____
  3. knife, scissor, razor - _____
  4. tracksuit, costume, dungaree - _____

84.5 ‣ In this silly story, change the singular nouns to plural where appropriate. Change the verbs where necessary.

I decided that if I wanted to be a pop star I’d have to move to London. I finally got a room, but it was on the outskirt of the city. The owner didn’t live on the premise, so I could make as much noise as I liked. The acoustic in the bathroom was fantastic, so I practised there. I made so much noise I almost shook the foundation! I went to the headquarter of the Musicians’ Union, but a guy there said I just didn’t have the right looks to be famous. Oh well, never mind!

_____

Answer Key
A ‣ Tools, instruments, pieces of equipment


  1. scissors

  2. pliers

  3. earphones

  4. tweezers

  5. tongs

  6. headphones

  7. binoculars

  8. scales

  9. handcuffs

  10. shears

  11. glasses / spectacles

  12. goggles

B ‣ Things we wear


  1. clothes

  2. pyjamas

  3. knickers/pants

  4. underpants/pants

  5. jeans

  6. tights

  7. overalls

  8. leggings

  9. dungarees

  10. shorts

  11. trousers

  12. braces

  13. (swimming) trunks

C ‣ Other useful words

The graphics in this game are amazing! [pictures produced on a computer] 

When will the goods be delivered? [articles/items]

The architect inspected the foundations [ under the building] before declaring that the premises were safe. [ the building itself]

The military authorities have established their headquarters in the old Town Hall.

The acoustics in the new opera house are near perfect. [ quality of the sound]

The contents /ˈkɒntents/ of the house were sold after her death.

Looks are less important than personality in a partner.

As you come to the outskirts of the village, there are traffic lights. Turn left there. [the beginning or end of the village]

The stairs are a bit dangerous -be careful.

The proceeds of the concert are going to the children's fund. [money from selling tickets]

A terrorist has escaped from prison. Her whereabouts are unknown. [where she is]

D ‣ Words with plural form but used mostly with singular verbs

Names of some games: billiards      dominoes      draughts      darts      bowls      cards

Names of subjects/activities: physics      economics      classics      gymnastics      athletics

Common mistakes

Some words look plural, or may be thought of as plural, but are not, e.g. news, spaghetti (an Italian plural form), series, means.
The news is good.  (NOT The news are good.)
The spaghetti was delicious. (NOT The spaghetti were delicious.)
There was a series of programmes on TV about Japan.
Is there a cheap means of transport I could use to get there?

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