Plural-only nouns: trousers, glasses and scissors

The idea

Use a plural verb and pronoun with trousers, glasses and scissors: they are. For one, say a pair of; for more, say two pairs of. The verb agrees with pair or pairs. In American English, pants often means trousers; in British English it usually means underwear.

Examples

• My glasses are on the kitchen table.
• These scissors are too small for the fabric.
• A pair of trousers is hanging by the window.
• Leo packed two pairs of shorts for the trip.
• Are your new jeans comfortable?
• The binoculars are in their case.

Watch out

Do not say a scissors or my glasses is. Say a pair of scissors and my glasses are.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. My glasses ___ on the desk. (is / are)

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   are

   are agrees with glasses.

2. Choose the correct option. This pair of scissors ___ sharp. (is / are)

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   is

   is agrees with the singular pair.

3. Choose the correct option. I bought two ___ of trousers. (pair / pairs)

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   pairs

   pairs follows the number two.

4. Choose the correct option. Those jeans are wet. Please hang ___ outside. (it / them)

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   them

   them refers back to jeans.

Use it today

Describe one object with a pair of and two objects with two pairs of.