Invariable Nouns
Singularia Tantum
There are nouns that are used only with a verb in the singular, though they may end in -s. They are called Singularia Tantum.
Singularia Tantum
Non-count
nouns (mass nouns, abstract nouns): water,
gas, love, stubbornness, excitement etc.
Personal
names, geographical names, other proper nouns: Brooklyn,
The Strand, The Old Monk, Brussels, Wales, The United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Names
of sports games: billiards,
cards, droughts, dominoes, bowls, skittles etc.
Names
of diseases: mumps,
shingles, measles, German measles, rickets, rabies, diabetes etc.
Names
of sciences and subjects for studying: phonetics,
linguistics, gymnastics, politics, mathematics, physics, ethics
etc*.
A
number of nouns that can’t be made plural in English, but are
countable in Russian: advice,
gallows, knowledge, news, progress, research, summons etc.
A
number of nouns that are Singularia Tantum in English, but are
Pluralia Tantum in Russian: money,
hair**,
chess, applause etc.
*But:
when names of sciences are used to express somebody’s knowledge on
the subject, grades, figures, these nouns are used with a verb in
the plural. Compare the sentences:
Physics
studies the laws of nature. (a
science) – Her Physics are
very poor. (grades)
Statistics
is an interesting science to study.
(a subject) – What are the
statistics on this point? (figures)
**But:
noun ‘hair’, when used in the meaning ‘волосинка’,
is countable: Her hair is blond. He has
several grey hairs.
.
There are nouns that are used only with a verb in the plural; they usually end in -s. They are called Pluralia Tantum.
Pluralia Tantum
Names
of tools, consisting of two parts: tweezers,
pincers, scales, scissors, spectacles, binoculars, pliers, tongs,
dividers, nutcrackers, clippers, fetters etc.
Names
of clothes: trousers,
pajamas (pyjamas), tights, breeches, culottes, corduroys, trunks,
draws, shorts, briefs, overalls, slacks, pants, panties, knickers,
underpants, braces etc.
Some
geographical names: the
Netherlands, the West Indies, the Highlands, the Hebrides etc.
Substantivised
adjectives, denoting groups of people: the
young, the old, the poor, the rich, the living, the wounded, the
blind, the dead, the disabled (the handicapped) etc.
Other
nouns: arms,
ashes, contents, customs, earnings, goods, greens, holidays, odds,
outskirts, suburbs, head-quarters, looks, premises, particulars,
stairs, thanks, surroundings, troops, wages, proceeds ,remains,
forces, whereabouts, the Middle Ages etc.
THE CATEGORY OF CASE
Exercise 7. 5.
A. Study the classification.
B. Explain the use of the Absolute Genitive.
Case
The Common Case The Genitive Case
(Ex.: Mary is here. (Ex.: This is Mary’s pen.
The paper is fresh.) This is a today’s newspaper.)
Absolute Genitive Dependant Genitive
(Ex.: 1. This is Peter’s book, and that is Mary’s. (Ex.: Mary’s pen)
2. We live at my aunt’s.
3. They married at St. Paul’s.
4. We buy bread at the baker’s.
5. I dislike this husband of my mother’s.)
C. Formulate the rules of formation and pronunciation of the Genitive Case ending.
The Rules of Pronunciation: -‘s is pronounced as [s], if………………………………………………… -‘s is pronounced as [z] if………………………………………………… -‘s is pronounced as [iz] if………………………………………………… |
The Rules of Formation:
b. My father-in-law’s car c. Dickens’ [nz] or Dickens’s [siz] novels d. Sophocles’ plays (Greek) [liz]
2. For plural nouns: a. these students’ note-books b. these children’s toys |
Exercise 7.6.
A. Supply the rule with the necessary examples from the list below.