Basic Details
Word: Singular
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: In grammar, showing only one person or thing; also very unusual or remarkable.
Synonyms: single, remarkable, unique, exceptional
Antonyms: plural, ordinary
How to Spell Singular
Syllables: sin - gu - lar
Tricky part: The ending is -ar, not -er, and the u after the g must not be dropped. Singuler and singlar are the usual mistakes.
Watch out for: singuler, singlar, singuller
Memory tip: Singular belongs to the -ular family with regular, popular and circular. All of them end in a-r.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Child is singular, but children is plural.
Example 2: The old banyan tree in our village is a singular sight, with roots that cover half a field.
Example 3: Check whether the verb agrees with a singular subject.
Fun Fact
They has long been used as a singular pronoun, as in Someone left their bag behind. Shakespeare used it that way more than four hundred years ago.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word singular as used in the sentence:
The teacher asked us to underline every singular noun in the paragraph.
a) single
b) plural
c) individual
d) sole
Show answer
b) plural. In grammar the opposite of one is more than one, which is plural; single, sole and individual all mean one.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
s_ng_l_r
a) i, u, e
b) i, u, a
c) e, u, a
d) i, a, a
Show answer
b) i, u, a. Sing gives the i, gu gives the u, and -lar closes the word just as in regular.
Mingle-Mangle
The jumbled word in the sentence hides a real word. Choose it:
She showed a rgnlaisu talent for music when she was only four.
a) similar
b) singsong
c) singular
d) regular
Show answer
c) singular. Regular needs an e and a second r, similar an m, and singsong an o and a second s, so the letters make singular.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The singular of geese is ____.
a) goose
b) gosling
c) gander
d) geeses
Show answer
a) goose
2. In 'a woman of singular courage', singular means ____.
a) lonely
b) remarkable
c) ordinary
d) doubtful
Show answer
b) remarkable
