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OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR 81 PAIR NOUNS AND GROUP NOUNS Pair nouns We use a pair noun for a thing made of two parts which are the same.. Some pair nouns are binoculars, glasses, jeans, p

OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR

81 PAIR NOUNS AND GROUP NOUNS

Pair nouns

We use a pair noun for a thing made of two parts

which are the same Some pair nouns are binoculars,

glasses, jeans, pants, pyjamas, scissors, shorts,

tights, trousers

A pair noun is plural and takes a plural verb My jeans

need washing, NOT my-jean

These tights were quite expensive, NOT this-tight jeans scissors glasses

binoculars

We've got some scissors somewhere, NOT a-scissor?

We cannot use a/an or a number with a pair noun But we can use pair of I need some jeans, OR I need a pair of jeans, NOT a jean Laura bought four

pairs of tights, NOT four-tights

B Group nouns

A group noun can usually take either a singular or a plural verb

The team was playing well, OR The team were playing well

The government is in crisis, OR The government are in crisis

The choice depends on whether we see the group as a whole or as individual people Often it doesn't matter

whether the verb is singular or plural But sometimes one form is better than the other

SINGULAR PLURAL

The family is a very old and famous one The family are delighted with their

presents

The orchestra consists of eighty-six musicians The orchestra don't know

what to play

When we mean the group as a whole, we use a When we mean the

individual people in the

singular verb group, we normally use the plural

We use it and its We use they, them and their

The committee has made its decision The class will miss their lessons

because they

are all going on a trip

Some group nouns: army, audience, band, board, choir, class, club,

committee, community, company,

council, crew, crowd, family, government, group, management, orchestra, population, press (= newspapers),

public, staff, team, union Also: Harrods, the BBC, the United Nations, etc and England (the England team),

Manchester United

C Police, people and cattle

These nouns have a plural meaning and take a plural verb

The police have warned motorists to take extra care People

don't know what the future will bring The cattle are going

to be sold with the farm

page 379 Group nouns in American English

81 EXERCISES

1 Pair nouns (A)

Trevor and Laura are shopping for clothes Choose the correct form

Trevor: These trousers (►)is/are a bit tight They (1) doesn't/don't feel very comfortable And I think the

blue ones (2) goes/go better with the jacket

Laura: That jacket (3) is/are too long

Trevor: Well, the jeans (4) fits/fit all right Perhaps I'll buy the jeans instead Laura: Yes, the jeans (5)

looks/look good on you I like the style I think they (6) suits/suit you Now you

get changed while I look for (7) a/some shorts And I might get (8) a/some skirt

2 Pair nouns (A)

Complete what Rachel says to Vicky Put one word

in each space

This old suitcase was in the corridor I don't know

who left it here It's been here for about three days,

so I'm having a look inside There's a

pair (►)of pyjamas, (1)………… jeans, two

(2)………of tight sanda (3)……… of

sunglasses There are (4)……… red shorts, too

3 Group nouns (B)

Complete this TV news report Choose the correct form of the verb

Zedco (►)have/has just announced that it made a loss of £35 million last year The management (1 ) is/are

well aware that they have made mistakes The press (2) have/has all been printing stories and articles critical

of the company The Zedco board (3) knows/know that they now have some difficult decisions to take

Naturally, the staff (4) is/are worried about their jobs and (5) wants/want a meeting with management as

soon as possible But Chief Executive Barry Douglas says things aren't really so bad He has said that the

company still (6) has/have a great future ahead of it

4 Group nouns (B-C)

Put in a group noun and is or are Use these nouns:

cattle, choir, crew, crowd, orchestra, police, population, team

► The crowd are all enjoying the game

1 This United the best one Tom has ever seen

2 The ……… hoping they can take part in a

national singing contest

3 The ship's all very tired after a long sea voyage

4 The ……… one of the biggest that has played at one of our concerts

5 The ……… installing cameras to photograph speeding motorists

6 At the moment beef ……… cheap because sales of beef are low

7 The country's growing rapidly because of immigration