Plural Identical in Form With the Singular. – Some nouns have one form for both singular and plural (either always or in certain combinations)

5. Plural Identical in Form With the Singular. – Some nouns have one form for both singular and plural (either always or in certain combinations).

Those nouns are partly survivals of the Old English and Latin uninflected plurals, partly forms which came to be used by the analogy of the old unchanged plurals.

The following nouns have one form for both singular and plural:

a) Names of some animals: sheep, deer, swine:

… The sheep on the Downs lay quiet as stones. [21] 'Oh, Elizabeth, look, look! The deer!' '…Oh yes! How funny the little ones are! But how graceful!' [20]

b) The noun fish and nouns denoting some sorts of fish, such as trout, cod, pike, salmon:

One day he caught a beautiful big fish… [11] In the water tiny fish swam between the olive growths of seaweed… [8] I know where trout are rising and where the salmon leap. [24]

To denote kinds of fish the form fishes is used:

There were many fishes in the net. She has bought a large book on our freshwater fishes. These pools swarm with a great variety of fishes.

c) Names indicating number such as dozen, pair, couple, and score (двадцать), when they are preceded by a numeral: two pair of gloves; five score of eggs; three dozen of shirts.

But the plural is also used:

He had… two pairs of stockings in his bundle. [10]

Note. – After many and few both forms are found: so many pair of wings, a great many pairs of gloves; a few score(s) of heads.

d) We have survivals of the old uninflected plural in kind, sort, and manner. The usual construction is now to keep kind, sort, and manner unchanged, but to use the plural these (those) if the word following of is plural (these kind of tools). But this construction is by many considered grammatically incorrect and therefore in careful literary speech books of that kind are preferred to the colloquial those kind of books:

These kinds of pens. Such kind of duties. Those sort of speeches.

e) The noun foot (measure of length) is feet in the plural. The plural foot is used when followed by a number indicating inches:

…I'm five foot eleven in my socks. [2] And was she tall enough? Only five foot five. [21]

f)  The noun pound (indicating money) has usually the s-plural except when followed by a numeral indicating shillings: two pounds, but: two pound ten.

g)  The nouns species and series borrowed from the Latin have also one form for both singular and plural:

A series of very, interesting experiments has been made in our laboratory. Two admirable series of the masters of Russian literature have been published recently. What a pretty species of roses! Many beautiful species of roses are cultivated in our garden.

6. Foreign Plurals. – Some nouns keep the plural form of the language (Latin, French or Greek) from which they have been borrowed:

Memorandum [am] – memoranda [э]; datum [am] – data [3]; phenomenon [an] – phenomena [aj; crisis [iz] – crises [i:zj; nucleus [ias] – nuclei [iai]; terminus [as] – termini [ai]; stimulus [as] – stimuli [at]; formula [a] – formulae [i:J; index – indices [i:z].

Words that are much used often have an English plural: memorandums, formulas, indexes, terminuses.

In all countries the broadest strata of the population have been mobilized in support of this great cause – the preservation of peace.

Then the pied wind-flowers and the tulip tall, and narcissi, the fairest among them all… [22]… the rest of the house had grown, emerging here and there into small oases of modernity. [21] Shelgrim wrote a few memoranda on his calendar pad, and signed a couple of letters before turning to Presley. [14]

Traditionally, the plural is formed by the inflexion – (e) s, the singular form of the nouns is a bare stem with a zero-inflexion. According this there are several ways of the pronunciation of the inflexion – (e) s at the end of the word, also there are several peculiarities in spelling. Some nouns are survivals of Old English plural forms; they form the plural. In many instances where the form in – s is used it may be understood either as the plural form of the common case or as the plural possessive. Some nouns have one form for both singular and plural. Some nouns are partly survivals of the Old English and Latin uninflected plurals, partly forms which came to be used by the analogy of the old unchanged plurals. Some nouns keep the plural form of the language (Latin, French or Greek) from which they have been borrowed.

1.4  Nouns Used in Both Numbers Singular and Plural

It is quite evident that only those nouns have both numbers (singular and plural) which denote things that can be counted, that is, things possessing a certain shape or having precise limits. Such nouns may be called countable or thing-nouns. To the group of nouns which have both numbers belong:

a) Concrete nouns: a girl – two girls; a book – two books; a flower – two flowers.

He took the loaf back to the scullery. [15] Brown, crisp loaves stood on the hearth. [15] Flowers fell on her face, and she shut her eyes… One flower had remained tangled in her hair. [15]

b) Abstract nouns: a day – two days; an event – two events; a task – two tasks.

Captain Cuttle liked this idea very much. [10] A new generation is growing up in our midst, a generation actuated by new ideas and new principles. [11] It was a momentary thought… [10] Andrew went back to Christine that evening with his thoughts in a maze. [23] I tried to shout but my voice was not very loud. [13] Voices and footsteps were heard in the passage… [19]

Nouns which have both numbers (countable) may be used with the indefinite article (in the singular) and associated with the pronouns some (in the singular or plural), many and few (in the plural):

A ring at the bell, repeated several times, roused him at last to go to the door. [21] What a night to wander out in! [21] Towards the evening of the following day…a letter arrived addressed to herself. [19] A, few early fallen oak-leaves strewed the terrace… [21] He had many invitations to dinner some of which he accepted. [7] Passing through a sort of porch made by two yew trees and some flowering-current bushes, the girl disappeared into the house. [21]