Certain nouns can be assumed to be plural nouns because they end in letter 's'. I call such nouns behavioural plural nouns. They are invariably singular nouns. They include politics, measles, electronics, physics, gymnastics, athletics, mathematics, economics, headquarters, minutes, news, civics. These nouns will always take the singular verb.
The minutes (of the meeting) was ready by the secretary.
The news has been aired on TV.
The headquarters (of the Police Force) is located in the capital city.
The premises (of the school) is dirty.
Measles is common among children.
On the other hand, scissors, trousers, shorts, knickers, pants, glasses, binoculars should take a plural verb.
The scissors haven't been oiled.
His shorts are dirty.
His glasses haven't been seen.
However, when these words are expressed as partitives (i.e. a part of something) such as:
A pair of trousers/knickers/pants ...
A pair of glasses/binoculars ...
They take a singular verb.
Lastly, words such as funds, thereabouts, whereabouts, premises, surroundings, damages, remains, dynamics, odds will usually take the plural verb.
Obviously, the odds are against him.
The damages done are fatal.
The funds have since been released.
His remains have since been buried.
The dynamics of the job keep changing.
The blogger, Olabanji O. Odurombi, can be contacted on 08037699294 (WhatsApp/SMS/Voice call).
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