Learn Nouns which are always used as plurals

Nouns which are always used as plurals

There are some nouns which are always used as plurals irrespective of the form of sentence.

Here are the examples of some such nouns:

Alms

Alms or Alms giving refers to giving something free as an act of virtue
Incorrect: Alms is given to the poor.
Correct: Alms are given to the poor.

Annal

Annals mean a concise historical record in which events are arranged chronologically.
Incorrect: The annal of Indian history is very interesting.
Correct: The annals of Indian history is very interesting.

Arms

Arms here refers to the weapons and is always used as a plural.
Incorrect: Germany laid down her arm in the war.
Correct: Germany laid down her arms in the war.

Billiards

Refers to cue sports in general which includes games like pool, carom billiards, snooker. Billiard is a type of shot in cue sports.
When referring to the game, the word is written as Billiards.
Incorrect: Billiards is generally played with a cue stick.
Correct : Billiards are generally played with a cue stick.

Breeches

Breeches refer to a thing used to cover the body below the waist. Like trousers, breeches are always used in a plural form.
Incorrect: Breeches was used by men for horse riding.
Correct: Breeches were used by men for horse riding.

Bowels

Bowels here refer to the intestine and the form always used it plural.
Incorrect: The doctor advised Mrs. Kate to keep her bowel clean.
Correct: The doctor advised Mrs. Kate to keep her bowels clean.

Eatables

Eatables refer to things which are edible and is always used in its plural form.
Incorrect: Eatable is not allowed inside the cinema halls.
Correct : Eatables are not allowed inside the cinema halls.

Fetters

Used in its plural form, this word refers to the chain tied around the feet of a prisoner.
Incorrect: The terrorist was chained with iron fetter.
Correct: The terrorist was chained with iron fetters.

Goods

Goods doesn’t mean many good remarks together. Rather it refers to a tangible thing and the word is always used as a plural
Incorrect: The goods was delivered to the customer.
Correct: The goods were delivered to the customer.

Headphones

Headphones refers to the complete set you connect with your computer and use to hear. Like headphones, earphones is another word used in its plural form.
Incorrect: Headphones is not detected by the computer.
Correct: Headphones are not detected by the computer.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by measles virus. The word always appears with ‘s’ at the end and is never written as measle.
Incorrect : He is suffering from measle.
Correct: He is suffering from measles.

Movables

Movables here refers to ‘belongings’ or possessions. This is different from something that has the capability to be moved.
Incorrect: Grandmother gave her movable to her only granddaughter.
Correct: Grandmother gave her movables to her only granddaughter.

Mumps

Mumps is a type of viral disease caused by mumps virus. It can not be called “mump”. The right form is “mumps”
Incorrect: Mumps are a non-communicable disease.
Correct: Mumps is a non-communicable disease.

Pantaloons

Refers to a form of trousers gathered at the ankles. The word always ends with a ‘s’ like trousers and breeches.
Incorrect: The pantaloons worn by modern females is not found among Bedouin.
Correct: The pantaloons worn by modern females are not found among Bedouin.

Premises

Premise and Premises are two different words. Premises refers to a tract of land along with its building and grounds etc. Premise on the other hand refers to an assumption that something is true.
Premises is not the plural of premise.
Incorrect: She entered the college premise.
Correct: She entered the college premise.

Proceeds

Proceeds here refers to the money obtained from an activity or event.
Incorrect : Proceeds is donated to charity.
Correct : Proceeds are donated to charity.
It is different from “Now, the procession proceeds to its final destination.”

Riches

Incorrect:Riches has wings
Correct: Riches have wings
Here the word 'riches' means 'wealth'. It is not the plural of 'Rich'. It is always used in plural form and has its independent existence. Hence plural verb 'have' is used in this case.

Scissors

Incorrect: Please give a scissor
Correct: Please give a pair of scissors
Always used with a ‘s’ at the end, the word refers to the instrument used to cut cloth paper etc. It consists of two blades fastened over each other.

Spectacles

Spectacles refers to a pair of glasses. It is not the plural form of ‘spectacle’ which means ‘a scene regarded in terms of its visual impact’.
Incorrect: His new spectacles was on the table.
Correct: His new spectacles were on the table.

Socks

Like trousers, breeches, scissors, it is a pairs of socks. It is not the plural form of ‘sock’.
Incorrect : My socks is too big.
Correct : My socks are too big.

Shorts

Shorts again is not a plural of ‘short’. It refers to short trousers which reach only to the knee.
Incorrect: His dad wore an oversized shirt and boxer short.
Correct: His dad wore an oversized shirt and boxer shorts.

Stockings

Stockings are garments that cover the leg from foot to knee even the thigh. The word always ends with a ‘s’ like ‘socks’.
Incorrect : The red stockings was worn out.
Correct: The red stockings were worn out.

Surroundings

Surroundings refers to the things or conditions around a person or thing. It is not the plural form of ‘Surrounding’ which means ‘all around a particular thing or place’
Incorrect: My grandmother was brought up in natural surrounding.
Correct: My grandmother was brought up in natural surroundings.
See how different it is from, I saw the water surrounding the whole market area.

Thanks

It is either ‘thanks’ or ‘thank you’ when you want to thank someone in person.
Incorrect: Thank for your valuable time.
Correct: Thanks for your valuable time.

Trousers

Trousers refers to a garment covering the legs from waist to ankle with a separate part for each leg. It is a pair of trousers actually.
Incorrect: Trousers is too large and expensive.
Correct: Trousers are too large and expensive.

Tongs

Again it is a pair and used in its plural form always.
Incorrect : Tongs is a tool used to lift objects.
Correct: Tongs are a tool used to lift objects.

Valuables

‘Valuable’ is something that you have a respect or regard for while ‘Valuables’ refer to precious or costly things like gems, jewels, gadgets etc.
Incorrect: The valuables was lost when she was traveling in the bus.
Correct: The valuables were lost when she was traveling in the bus.