NOUNS When you travel, you have to plan all expenses.

manner manners
GENDER: no grammatical gender in English, nouns My dog always behaves in a friendly manner.
are mostly neutral when it comes to gender Elderly people say teenagers have bad manners.
Exceptions: names of some jobs and professions: work works
My father is always late for work.
 businessman / businesswoman
I’ve read Shakespeare’s Collected Works.
 chairman / chairwoman glass glasses
 policeman / policewoman Would you fetch me a glass of water?
(now emphasis is being put on neutral names such Have you seen my glasses, honey?
as businessperson, chair, police officer) look looks
She gave her boyfriend a cold look.
COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS: She was admiring Jack’s good looks.
COUNTABLE UNCOUNTABLE
a coffee = a cup coffee = the liquid PARTITIVES:
a tea = a cup tea = the liquid container + of a tube of toothpaste
a cola = a can cola = the liquid a can of beer
a lemonade = a glass lemonade = the liquid a carton of milk
a chicken = a bird chicken = the food container: compound a beer-can
a fish = a creature fish = the food noun a matchbox
a duck = a bird duck = the food small quantities a speck of dust
a lamb = a mammal lamb = the food a grain of rice
a mutton mutton = the food a scrap of paper
a beef beef = the food a lump of sugar
a drawing = a picture drawing = the activity a lump of coal
a painting = a picture painting = the activity abstract nouns a piece of advice
a sculpture = an item sculpture = the activity a piece of information
an art art = the abstract a spot of trouble
a poetry poetry = the abstract an item of news
a stone = an item stone = the material quantities a liter of beer
a paper = a document paper = the material a kilo of cheese
a rock = an item rock = the material words describing types a kind of
a wool wool = the material a type of
a variety of
a cotton cotton = the material
a species of
game, round a game of chess
CHANGE OF MEANINGS BETWEEN
a round of golf
SINGULAR AND PLURAL: food and drink a cup of coffee
SINGULAR PLURAL a cup of tea
a species species a loaf of bread
This species is likely to become extinct soon. a slice of meat
There are many endangered species in Australia. a slice of cake
a crossroads crossroads a slice of cheese
In many tiny villages there is only one crossroads. a piece of cake
All the main crossroads have been blocked today. a bar of chocolate
a series series weather a cloud of dust
What is your favourite series? a flash of lightning
The Netflix series are better positioned there. a clap of thunder
a means means a shower of rain
Rail is the most economical means of transport. miscellaneous a piece of furniture
There are numerous means of doing this task. a piece of clothing
damage damages an item of furniture
Serious damage was caused by the COVID-19. an item of clothing
I’ve broken my leg at work and I want my damages. a bar of soap
custom customs a pair of trousers
For many people Christmas is just a custom.
You have to go through customs at the airport.
expense expenses UNUSUAL NOUNS TAKING ONLY SINGULAR
For most students, rent is the biggest expense. VERBS:
 names of illnesses
measles, mumps, rickets
ending in -s
sports and games ending aerobics, gymnastics,
in -s darts, athletics, billards
mathematics, politics,
university disciplines linguistics, physics, A SINGULAR VERB IS NEEDED:
economics  with the subject which is singular, even if
abstract ideas and
news, thanks, happiness separated by other words:
emotions
The petrol station across the road from the new
cities with plural forms Naples, Athens
shops has just cut its prices.
two meters, five
specific measurements centimeters, 200  with two-part subjects when we see them as one
kilometers single concept
family, government, Fish and chips is a dish typically eaten in
group, staff, team, band, England.
class, council, army,  with titles of books, films, etc. even if they are
collective nouns as a
management, the United plural nouns
whole entity
Nations, British American sitcom ‘Friends’ is one of the most
Airways, Microsoft recognizable series of all time.
Corporation  with collective nouns if seen as a whole entity
a bunch of flowers, a
The government has recently lost plenty of
circle of friends, a crowd
supporters.
of people, a gang of
thieves, a herd of cattle,  with a + collective noun
a + noun + of A group of students doesn’t agree with the
a flock of sheep, a pack
of cards, a panel of majority when it comes to social issues.
experts, a team of  with usually uncountable nouns if we want to talk
lawyers about different types of them
This is a soft cheese from the Pyrenees (=the
specific type of cheese).
UNUSUAL NOUNS TAKING ONLY PLURAL  with abstract nouns referring to specific feelings
VERBS: A love of fashion and music is common among
goods, whereabouts, teenagers.
remains, stairs, proceeds, The everlasting love of Romeo and Juliet has
belongings, clothes, tricked many people into believing in one true
only plural form existing congratulations, love.
earnings, goods,
outskirts, surroundings,
thanks
glasses, jeans, pyjamas, A PLURAL VERB IS NEEDED:
object divided into two scales, scissors,  with two-part subjects (optionally connected with
parts spectacles, trousers, both … and)
shorts Paul and John wear the same shirts every
family, government, Monday.
group, staff, team, band, Both Poland and Hungary are ruled by right-
class, council, army, wing extremists.
collective nouns as a
management, the United  with collective nouns if seen as a group of
group of individuals
Nations, British individuals
Airways, Microsoft The government have been acting like clowns
Corporation
since 2015 (meaning each minister has been
certain collective nouns police, people, cattle
acting like a clown separately)
people meaning The peoples of North
‘nationality’ or ‘race’ Asia are still mostly  with an adjective used as a collective
or ‘tribe’ nomadic. The physically disabled meet unpleasant obstacles
in everyday life.
 with the majority of / a number of / a couple of
The majority of people were pleased to see the
government fall.
BOTH SINGULAR AND PLURAL VERBS ARE
POSSIBLE:
 with What as the introducer of a noun clause
What I despise the most nowadays is / are actions
of Polish government in the subject of abortion
law.
 with the verb which is a long way from the subject
(and closer to the complement – dopełnienie)
The most exciting event in the Sydney Olympics
for most British viewers was / were the rowing
finals.
 with collective nouns describing groups of people
(the majority, the public)
The public is / are deeply concerned with current
political situation.