Stair: a step and a staircase

The idea

Use a stair for one step and the stairs for the set. Say up the stairs or down the stairs to describe movement.

Examples

• The child sat on the bottom stair.
• The stairs lead to the kitchen.
• Please walk down the stairs slowly.
• One stair is higher than the others.
• Our dog ran up the stairs.
• The stairs are wet after cleaning.

Watch out

Do not use singular stair for the whole set in ordinary directions: say take the stairs.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct word. That single ___ is broken. (stair / stairs)

   Show answer or example answer

   stair

   stair: The sentence points to one broken step.

2. Choose the correct word. The ___ are very narrow. (stair / stairs)

   Show answer or example answer

   stairs

   stairs: The plural names the set and takes are.

3. Choose the correct word. Walk ___ the stairs to reach the upper floor. (up / under)

   Show answer or example answer

   up

   up: This direction leads to the upper floor.

Use it today

Describe the stairs in a building you know.