Some things are simply better in pairs — socks, chopsticks, mittens, etc. These plural nouns also have singular forms; for example, you might be left with just one sock after losing the matching one to the laundry monster. But other nouns, such as scissors, are almost exclusively used in the plural form, as they’re much harder to separate — both physically and grammatically.
There’s a Latin grammar concept called plurale tantum (translated as “plural only”) that has been borrowed into English. It refers to nouns that contain multiple parts, yet function as a singular object or concept. A noun that falls into this category is almost always expressed in its plural form. You’ll notice that while it functions as a singular object, it’s spelled in the plural, and it takes the plural verb form. Here’s a look at 10 examples of this phenomenon.
When describing an outfit, you’d probably refer to the collective set of garments as “clothes.” But if you drop the “s,” you’re left with “clothe” — a verb meaning “to dress someone or something.” “Clothe” can only be used as a verb — it’s never a singular noun. This is why if you’re talking about a singular shirt you really like, you would say something to the effect of “I love this piece of clothing.” “I love this clothe,” on the other hand, is nonsense;the noun “clothe” doesn’t exist.
According to Merriam-Webster, the word “scissors” can be traced back to theLatin caesorium, a singular noun for a cutting instrument. That word was adopted in Middle French in both singular (cisoire) and plural (cisoires) forms. It’s important to note that the plural cisoires did not represent multiple cutting instruments, but instead the paired blades of a single instrument, which turned into “scissors” in English around the 15th century. Today, the word “scissor” does exist, but not as a noun. It’s a verb meaning “to cut,” and the object itself is always referred to as “scissors” or sometimes “a pair of scissors.” This concept applies to shears and other similar cutting tools made from multiple components.
There are many ocular-related nouns with just a plural-form — think “sunglasses,” “goggles,” and “binoculars.” Much like with scissors, this has to do with the two identical components (i.e., each lens) that make up the singular object. People also often use the plural form when referring to the brand or style. For example, someone who owns a pair of Oakley-brand sunglasses may refer to them as “Oakleys,” and someone else may talk about wanting a pair of aviators.
If someone possesses vast wealth, you can refer to the person as being rich or as having riches. However, you’d never refer to each individual dollar in their bank account as one rich. The term “riches” is one of several examples of pluralium tantum (the plural of the concept) having to do with possessing assets. “Belongings” and “earnings” also are used almost exclusively in their plural form. (Technically each has a singular noun form, but they’re rarely, if ever used.)
When someone dies, the body’s physical remnants are referred to as “remains.” While Merriam-Webster says it’s technically possible to use “remain” as a singular noun, doing so has little to no use in the modern English language. Instead, the word “remain” is primarily reserved as a verb meaning “to stay put.”
“Thank” is a transitive verb meaning “to express gratitude.” When used as a noun, it’s always as the plural “thanks” and never just “thank,” though that wasn’t always the case. The word is derived from the Old English þanc, which was used to express goodwill. But this archaic singular form faded into obscurity, and the plural form was in use by the 1580s.
“Outskirts” is one of the many pluralium tantum used to describe a location, along with words such as “premises” or “surroundings.” While it’s technically possible to talk about a single “outskirt,” the idea of doing so has no real place in modern English. Stick to the plural form of the noun in these contexts.
Like “clothes,” “pants” is a noun that’s almost universally used in its plural form. Each pair of pants is made up of two legs — much like how scissors are made up of two blades that form one single object. “Pant” does exist as a singular noun, but not in the same sense. It can refer to a single breath when someone is panting, or it’s sometimes used as a modifier, accompanied by another noun (e.g., “pant leg” or “pant suit”).
The word “shenanigans” is English slang meaning “nonsense,” though it’s of uncertain origin according to the Etymology Online Dictionary. What we do know is that this term is almost exclusively used in the plural sense. While it’s possible to describe each individual “shenanigan,” anyone who has been up to no good knows that shenanigans come in pairs or even groups.
When discussing the chance that something may happen, people always talk about the “odds.” No one would ask, “What is the odd?” The word “odd” is an adjective reserved for describing quirkiness, and it’s never used as a noun.
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