Pluralia Tantum and Singularia Tantum

1.5  Pluralia Tantum and Singularia Tantum

The most general quantitative characteristics of individual words constitute the lexico-grammatical base for dividing the nounal vocabulary as a whole into countable nouns and uncountable nouns. The constant categorial feature «quantitative structure» is directly connected with the variable feature «number», since uncountable nouns are treated grammatically as either singular or plural. Namely, the singular uncountable nouns are modified by the non-discrete quantifiers much or little, and they take the finite verb in the singular, while the plural uncountable nouns take the finite verb in the plural.

The two subclasses of uncountable nouns are usually referred to, respectively, as singularia tantum (only singular) and pluralia tantum (only plural). [27] The nouns which have only a plural and no singular are usually termed «pluralia tantum» (which is the Latin for «plural only»), and those which have only a singular and no plural are termed «singularia tantum» (the Latin for «singular only'') [26] In terms of oppositions we may say that in the formation of the two subclasses of uncountable nouns the number opposition is «constantly» (lexically) reduced either to the weak member (singularia tantum) or to the strong member (pluralia tantum).

Since the grammatical form of the uncountable nouns of the singularia tantum subclass is not excluded from the category of number, it stands to reason to speak of it as the «absolute» singular, as different from the «correlative» or «common» singular of the countable nouns. The absolute singular excludes the use of the modifying numeral one, as well as the indefinite article. [27]

The most general quantitative characteristics of individual words constitute the lexico-grammatical base for dividing the nounal vocabulary as a whole into countable nouns and uncountable nouns. The nouns which have only a plural and no singular are usually termed «pluralia tantum», and those which have only a singular and no plural are termed «singularia tantum».

1.6  Nouns Used Only in the Singular or Singularia Tantum

Nouns denoting things which have neither shape nor precise limits cannot be counted and therefore have no distinction between singular and plural; they are used only in the singular. Such nouns may be called uncountable or mass-nouns. To the group of nouns used only in the singular belong:

a) Concrete nouns:

1. Names of materials: water, milk, wine, snow, bread, air.

On my breakfast table there is a pot of honey. [21]… there was the cool sound of milk dropping into pails… [21] We didn't take beer or wine. [11] Seizing ink and writing-paper, she began to write… [21]

2. Some collective nouns: foliage, leafage, shrubbery, brushwood, linen (белье), machinery, furniture:

Birds fluttered softly in the wet shrubbery… [21] He had chosen the furniture himself. [21]… he took a narrow ride up through a dark bit of mixed timber with heavy undergrowth. (Galsworthy.)

b) Abstract nouns: friendship, joy patriotism, love, kindness, weather, courage, information, progress, etc.: There was a great deal of confusion and laughter and noise… [11] It was beautiful weather. (Lawrence.) At parting, my aunt gave me some good advice… [10] A sudden tide of joy went leaping out of his heart. [11]

Nouns used only in the singular (uncountable) have no article where a noun which expresses both numbers (countable) would be associated with the indefinite article; they may be used with the pronouns what, some, much or little:

Perfect harvest weather; but oppressively still… [21] Everyone gave him advice… [11] Of course-this was good news. [7] «What delightful weather we are having!» [20] What beauty, what stillness! [21] He had anticipated much pleasure in this afternoon's reading… [9] «But have some tea. I've just made it.» [21]

Some collective nouns used only in the plural also belong to the group of uncountable such as: goods, sweepings, tidings, etc.

1.7  Nouns Used Only in the Plural

1.  A number of nouns are used only in the form of the plural. With these nouns the plural does not indicate several objects but denotes a composite whole.

2.  To the group of nouns which are used only in the plural form belong:

a) The names of things which consist of two similar halves such as scissors, trousers, spectacles, scales (весы), eye-glasses, tongs (щипцы):

These scissors are sharp. Your spectacles are on the table. Your opera-glasses are very good.

b) Nouns which have collective meaning (concrete or abstract):

1. Concrete: stairs, goods, eaves, slums, outskirts, tropics, memoirs, victuals [vitlz] (провизия), supplies, clothes, sweepings, slops (помои), preserves (консервы), parings (кожура), sweets, lodgings (sometimes) lodging; but always board and lodging), etc.:

The car went smoothly and swiftly through the outer suburbs… [4] Beads of water still dripped from the eaves… [24] At last they reached the outskirts of the forest… [15] «Got any lodgings – «No.» [10] «Come, hand in eatables.» [10] My clothes were my Sunday best. [2] «I say, can you let a lodging?» [7]

2. Abstract: holidays, tidings, goings-on (поступки), begin nings (also beginning), earnings, wages (often in the singular, especially in the following combinations: a living wage, a fixed wage, a minimum wage), contents, etc.:

She tried to adjust herself to her new surroundings. [4] These are indeed happy tidings. We get good wages. They spent their holidays in the mountains. Bad beginnings make good endings (первый блин комом). «Well,» said Wardle, «here are pretty goings-on…» [10] He told me of some of his doings. [5]

3. In some nouns the final – s loses the meaning of the plural inflexion and the noun is treated as a singular. This is the case with the names of sciences and occupations in – ics: mathematics, phonetics, optics, which are usually considered as singular:

Phonetics is the science of sounds. Mathematics is his strong point. Optics is a branch of physics; it treats of light.

These nouns are treated as plurals when practical application is meant:

His phonetics are excellent. The acoustics of this hall are good.

Politics, tactics, gymnastics, athletics are generally regarded as plurals.

«The only politics I understand,» answered Magnus sternly, «are honest politics.» [6]

4. With some nouns the usage wavers, and the noun is treated either as a singular or as a plural:

The gas-works is (are) situated on the river. Price's works was small. [5] To-day we are going to visit a great smelting-works… [6]

It should be noted that with regard to nouns used only in the plural the English and the Russian usage sometimes differ. Thus the noun opera-glasses is used in English only in the plural, whereas in Russian бинокль has both numbers. The noun сани is used in Russian only in the plural; in English sledge has both numbers. Other nouns are used in one language only in the plural, in the other – only in the singular. Thus in Russian the noun сумерки is used only in the plural, whereas in English the noun twilight is used only in the singular.