singular form

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Singular Form

Definition: The "singular form" of a word is the version that indicates just one item or individual. In English, most nouns have both singular and plural forms. The singular form is used when talking about one person, place, thing, or idea.

Usage Instructions

1. Identifying Singular Form: When you want to talk about one item, use the singular form.

   • Example: "cat" (singular) vs. "cats" (plural).

2. Verb Agreement: When using singular nouns, make sure the verb agrees with it. For instance, we say "The cat runs" (not "The cat run").

Examples

• Singular Noun:

  • "dog" (one dog)
  • "apple" (one apple)

• In a Sentence:

  • "I have one dog."
  • "She eats an apple."

Advanced Usage

1. Collective Nouns: Sometimes, collective nouns (like "team" or "family") can be singular even though they refer to a group.

   • Example: "The team is winning." (Here, "team" is singular but refers to multiple players.)

2. Uncountable Nouns: Words like "water" or "information" are always singular because they cannot be counted individually.

   • Example: "Water is essential for life."

Word Variants

• Plural Form: The form of the word that indicates more than one. For example, "cats" is the plural form of "cat."
• Singularity: The state of being singular or one.

Different Meanings

1. Mathematics: In math, "singular" can refer to a matrix that does not have an inverse.
2. Grammar: In grammar, "singular" can describe a verb form that corresponds with a singular subject.

Synonyms

• Unique
• Individual
• One

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Singularly focused": This idiom means to be very focused on one specific thing.
• Phrasal Verb: There aren't common phrasal verbs specifically with "singular," but knowing the term helps in understanding phrases about individual focus or importance.

Summary

The singular form is essential in English as it helps us specify when we are talking about just one thing.

Academic

Noun

1. the form of a word that is used to denote a singleton

Synonyms

• singular