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Distributive plural: Tell them to bring raincoats.

People doing the same thing​

To talk about several people each doing the same thing, English usually prefers a plural noun for the repeated idea.

  • Tell the kids to bring raincoats to school tomorrow. (More natural than Tell the kids to bring a raincoat …)

Plural forms are almost always used in this case if there are possessives.

  • Tell the children to blow their noses. (not … to blow their nose.)
  • Six people lost their lives in the accident.

Uncountable nouns cannot of course be used in the plural.

  • They were all anxious to increase their knowledge. (not … their knowledges.)

Repeated events​

In descriptions of repeated single events, singular and plural nouns are both possible. When no details are given, plural nouns are more natural.

  • I often get headaches. (More natural than I often get a headache.)
  • She sometimes goes for rides over the hills.

When details of the time or situation are given, nouns are often singular.

  • I often get a headache when I’ve been working on the computer.
  • She often goes for a ride over the hills before supper.

Singular nouns may also be used to avoid misunderstanding.

  • I sometimes throw a stone into the river and wish for good luck. (clearer than I sometimes throw stones … – only one stone is thrown each time)

To refer to the time of repeated events, both singular and plural expressions are often possible with little difference of meaning.

  • We usually go and see my mother on Saturday(s).
  • He’s not at his best in the morning(s).

Generalisations and rules​

In generalisations and rules, singular and plural nouns are both possible.

  • We use a past participle in a perfect verb form. (or We use past participles in perfect verb forms.)
  • All documents must be accompanied by a translation of the original. (or All documents must be accompanied by translations of the originals.)

Mixtures of singular and plural are possible.

  • Subjects agree with their verb.
  • Children may resemble both their father and their mother in different ways.

This often happens with fixed singular expressions like at the beginning.

  • Discourse markers often come at the beginning of sentences.