Nouns That Are Always Plural in English

Nouns That Are Always Plural in English (and How to Use Them Correctly)

In English, most nouns have a singular and a plural form:

one book → two books

one chair → three chairs

Simple enough. But English, being English, likes to keep us on our toes. 😄 Some nouns do not have a singular form at all. They are always plural and must be used with plural verbs and plural pronouns.

For example:

• Your glasses are Take a tissue to wipe them.
• Please accept my condolences.
• There are more and more people in the world every day.

Let’s look at the three main groups of nouns that are always plural and learn how to use them correctly.

Group 1: things with two parts

These nouns describe objects that consist of two equal or joined parts:

• glasses
• scissors
• trousers
• jeans
• shorts
• pyjamas
• tights

We always use them in the plural:

• My new trousers are very comfortable.
• These scissors aren’t sharp enough.
• Your glasses are on the table.

Talking about ONE item

If you want to talk about one of these things, use:

a pair of + plural noun

• This pair of trousers is very comfortable.
• That pair of scissors is extremely sharp.
• I’ve bought a new pair of jeans.

Notice:  A pair is singular, so we use is / was.

Group 2: nouns that end in -S (but are not singular)

Some nouns look plural and are plural — and they have no singular form:

• clothes
• stairs
• belongings
• thanks
• congratulations
• surroundings

Examples:

• These clothes are dirty.
• The stairs in their house are very narrow.
• Many thanks for taking care of my cat.
• All his belongings were stolen.

Important point

These nouns are countable, because we ask How many? (not How much?)

• How many clothes have you bought?
• How many belongings have you got?

❌ We do NOT say: a clothe, a belonging, a stair (in this meaning).

Group 3: words that describe groups of people or animals

Some nouns describe a group but are grammatically plural:

• police
• people
• cattle
• folk
• poultry

We use them with plural verbs:

• The police are in front of the building.
• There were many people in the streets last night.
• The cattle are kept on this farm.
• Local folk are very friendly.

❌ We do NOT say: a police, a cattle, a people.

If you want to talk about one person, say:

• a police officer
• a person
• a cow

Quick summary

These nouns:

✔ are always plural

✔ take plural verbs

✔ take plural pronouns

❌ do not have a normal singular form

Examples:

• My trousers are too long.
• The police have arrived.
• Your belongings were left here.

Common mistakes to avoid

❌ My trousers is new.

✅ My trousers are new.

❌ The police is investigating.

✅ The police are investigating.

❌ This scissors is sharp.

✅ These scissors are sharp.

or

✅ This pair of scissors is sharp.

Download exercise PDF with nouns that are always plural in English

Want to learn more?

If you found this useful, you might also like this lesson:

👉 Nouns That Are Only Singular in English

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