Page 175 - English Vocabualry In Use 3 (Upper Intermediate)

84 Words that only occur in the plural

A Tools, instruments, pieces of equipment

scissors pliers earphones tweezers tongs headphones

binoculars scales handcuffs shears glasses/ goggles

spectacles
B Things we wear

clothes pyjamas knickers/pantsunderpants/pantsjeanstights overalls

leggings dungarees shorts trousers braces (swimming)trunks

C Other useful words

Thegraphicsinthisgameareamazing![picturesproducedonacomputer]
Whenwillthegoodsbedelivered?[articles/items]
Thearchitectinspectedthefoundations[underthebuilding]beforedeclaringthatthepremiseswere
safe.[thebuildingitself]
ThemilitaryauthoritieshaveestablishedtheirheadquartersintheoldTownHall.
Theacousticsinthenewoperahousearenearperfect.[qualityofthesound]
Thecontents/ˈkɒntents/ofthehouseweresoldafterherdeath.
Looks arelessimportantthanpersonalityinapartner.
Asyoucometotheoutskirtsofthevillage,therearetrafficlights.Turnleftthere.[thebeginningor
end of the village]
Thestairsareabitdangerous-becareful.
Theproceedsoftheconcertaregoingtothechildren’sfund.[moneyfromsellingtickets]
Aterroristhasescapedfromprison.Herwhereaboutsareunknown.[wheresheis]

D Words with plural form but used mostly with singular verbs

Namesofsomegames:billiards dominoes draughts darts bowls cards
Namesofsubjects/activities:physics economics classics gymnastics athletics

Common mistakes

Some words look plural, or may be thought of as plural, but are not, e.g. news, spaghetti (an Italian
plural form), series, means. The news is good. (NOT The news are good.) The spaghetti was delicious.
(NOT The spaghetti were delicious.) There was a series of programmes on TV about Japan. Is there a
cheap means of transport I could use to get there?

174 English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate