Page 212 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

singular/plural team, family; jeans, scissors

Words for groups of people can have singular or plural verbs in British English.
We often use plural verbs when we talk about personal actions (for example play, want, think).

The team is/are playing badly. My family want/wants me to study.
The government think/thinks taxes are too low.
Note the difference between England (the country) and England (the football team).

England has got a new prime minister. England have got a new manager.
Police is always plural.

The police are looking for a tall 30-year-old woman. (NOT The police is looking...)

Group nouns (/) or not (X)?

army..... audience..... beach ..... class.... .. club.... . Communist Party..... . company......
crowd.... . idea...... lunch...... question .... .. room ... ... school.... train ..

Q Put the beginnings and ends together, and put in plural verbs from the box.

are have haven't need / play say want

0 The club A ... her to go to university........
1 The company B only..... ...........classical music.........
2 Her family C ... scored a goal this year.......

3 The orchestra D ... that they're losing money........
4 This team E vcttd .. a bigger room for their meetings. .....
5 England F ... asking for information about the accident........
6 The police G ... just lost against Germany........

Some nouns are always plural. Some common examples:
trousers jeans tights shorts pants pyjamas glasses scissors

Those trousers are too short. (NOT That trouser...) Where are my glasses?

Complete the sentences. Use the words in the box.

black trousers blue jeans/ dark glasses scissors shorts silk pyjamas tights

► Every time I see her she's wearing ?£!*£:......................
1 I can't see very well with these..............................................

2 It's hot today. I'm going to put o n ..............................................
3 These.............................................. don't cut very well.
4 You'd better put on your best.............................................. for the interview.
5 She always sleeps in .............................................
6 I've got a hole in m y...............................................again.

We can also use the expression a pair of with these nouns.

There is a pair of scissors on your chair. (N O T... asc-issers...)
three pairs of jeans (NOT three jeans)

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full NOUNS 197
forms (for example /am, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.