Grammar · Nouns
Plural-Only Nouns & Nouns With Two Natures
Why do we say “the trousers are” but “the news is”? Learn the nouns that are always plural, and the ones that only look plural, with the film Enola Holmes.
Grammar › Nouns › Plural-Only Nouns & Nouns With Two Natures
The rule in one sentenceSome nouns, like trousers, scissors and clothes, are always plural and take a plural verb, while a few nouns, like news, end in -s but are singular, and some nouns change meaning when you count them (paper, a paper).
About the film
Enola Holmes is a film from 2020, set in England in the 1880s. Enola is the young sister of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, and on her sixteenth birthday she wakes up to strange news: her mother has disappeared. Her older brother Mycroft wants to send her to a strict school for young ladies, so Enola runs away to London in a boy’s clothes, with a jacket and trousers.
What does it do?
Most nouns are simple: one hat, two hats. But some nouns have no singular form. Words like trousers, scissors, glasses and clothes are always plural, so the verb is plural too: the trousers are, never the trousers is.
Many of these words are things with two equal parts, like two legs or two blades. Other nouns do the opposite. News ends in -s, but it is singular: the news is bad. School subjects like maths and physics work the same way.
Look at tiles one and two. Both nouns end in -s, but they take different verbs. Trousers is plural, so we use are. News is singular, so we use is.
To count plural-only things, use “a pair of”. The verb then follows “pair”, so it is singular:
Enola’s trousers are dirty after the long journey. This pair of trousers is clean.
The noun is the same, but the verb follows the first word: trousers (plural) or pair (singular).
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
Always plural — trousers, clothes
Her clothes are in a small bag.
The scissors aren’t sharp.
Never say “a scissor” or “a trouser”.Where are my glasses?
Use a plural verb in questions too.Singular — news, a pair of
The news is in all the papers.
The news isn’t good.
Never say “a news”. Say “a piece of news”.Is there any news about her mother?
With news, use any, some or much, not many.When to use each one
Plural verb
Singular verb
Words that help: always plural or singular?
Learn these words as a group. It is much easier than learning them one by one.
Always plural → are, were, have
Singular → is, was, has
Common mistakes
❌ The news are very strange.
✅ The news is very strange.
News ends in -s, but it is always singular.
❌ Enola’s trousers is too big.
✅ Enola’s trousers are too big.
Trousers is always plural, so use are.
❌ She buys a trouser in London.
✅ She buys a pair of trousers in London.
There is no “a trouser”. Use “a pair of trousers”.
❌ I have a good news for you.
✅ I have some good news for you.
You cannot say “a news”. Say “some news” or “a piece of news”.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Nouns with two natures. Some nouns change their meaning when you add “a” or make them plural. Paper is the material, but a paper is a newspaper. Glass is what windows are made of, but glasses help you see. Hair is all the hair on your head, but a hair is just one.
✅ Enola writes her message on paper. (the material)
✅ People in London read the news in a paper. (a newspaper)
Practice: singular or plural?
Eight questions. Choose the right word. You get the answer, and why.
1. The news about her mother ___ very strange.
News is always singular → is.
2. Enola’s new trousers ___ too long for her.
Trousers is always plural → are.
3. Where ___ my glasses? I can’t read without them.
Glasses (for your eyes) is plural → are.
4. She buys ___ in a shop in London.
There is no “a trouser” → a pair of trousers.
5. A pair of scissors ___ on the table.
The verb follows “pair”, which is singular → is.
6. I have ___ for you. Your brother is here.
You cannot count news → some news.
7. All her ___ are in one small bag.
Belongings (the things you own) is plural-only.
8. Maths ___ Enola’s favourite subject.
School subjects ending in -s are singular → is.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
Keep going
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Now hear it in the film
You have just learned plural-only nouns with Enola Holmes. Now hear the whole film explained in English.
The full listening episode on the same film — a slow, clear movie review with the language used in real speech, and a free transcript.
IntermediateEpisode 76Watch on YouTube