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Actually, you can't really stop thinking of them as plurals, as Anglica suggests, because we always refer to them as:
"a pair of pants/trousers/scissors/glasses/shears/pliers etc", whereas
"a pair of shirts" would be two physical shirts.
Many apologies for the twists & turns of the English language.
Actually, you can't really stop thinking of them as plurals, as Anglica suggests, because we always refer to them as:
"a pair of pants/trousers/scissors/glasses/shears/pliers etc", whereas
"a pair of shirts" would be two physical shirts.
Many apologies for the twists & turns of the English language.
Regards
NT2,
No need for apologies. You know it's really just my "obssessive compulsiveness" (a friend has pointed that out for me) that I'm dealing with. This is my way of taming it.....by venting. Sorry guys.
Thanks
NT
The Following User Says Thank You to NearThere For This Useful Post:
I'm sorry if you think I was unhelpful. But in any language sometimes it is better to stop worrying about why something is and learn it by rote.
Oh yes, you did help alot, I apologize that I didn't make it clear. I'm not looking at it as plural no more.
The explanations for subtleties can become intensely complex in themselves and can lead to lengthy diatribes, often quite aggressive and vicious.
Oops, sorry again. I was actually having a fun time with you guys, but I guess you couldn't really have sensed that either. Please accept my apology, I'd be more discrete next time. Thanks a million!
Re: what constitutes the "s" in .......say pants? 
.
. You know it's really just my "obssessive compulsiveness" (a friend has pointed that out for me) that I'm dealing with. This is my way of taming it.....by venting. Sorry guys.
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