A fortnight ago, we addressed issues having to do with aspects of countable and uncountable nouns, collective nouns, and words whose statuses (singular or plural) sometimes create problems for Nigerian users.
Another word that causes confusion for many users of English is machinery. Many writers (and speakers) are not sure whether it should be regarded as a singular or plural noun. A discussion of the status of the word is presented as follows. Whether it is used denotatively (or literally) or connotatively (or figuratively), the noun machinery always occurs in the singular. It is poor grammar to use it in the plural as the writer has done.
Now read the following sentences: 1) The problem with African political leaders is that they always personalize the machinery of power. 2) Every institution must have machinery for resolving crises. 3) We are about to set machinery in motion for reconciling the warring factions of the party. 4) The opposition party accused the ruling party of abusing the machinery of government. 5) There is no need for setting up separate anti-corruption agencies, for the existing machinery of government should be enough to tackle corruption and related matters. 6) The tribunals and other judicial processes are an important part of the democratic machinery. 7) In consonance with its emphasis on technology, the company has spent millions of naira on importation of machinery. 8) The auditors queried the amount of money spent on the maintenance of machinery last year. 9) This section of the building houses the machinery. 10) The machinery is so sensitive that it has to be handled by extremely competent personnel. 11) Without electricity, the machinery is as good as useless. 12) In spite of the millions of naira spent on it, the machinery is grossly underutilized.
Next, we consider the word drainage. Many Nigerians frequently pluralize the word drainage. But it is an uncountable noun which, typically, should not be pluralized.
Please read the following sentences: 1) Given the poor drainage, erosion will damage this road within a short time. 2) Engineers are already thinking about ways of improving the efficiency of the drainage system. 3) I am not an engineer, but it should be obvious to any observer that the drainage is faulty. 4) I think it will be useful to construct the drainage system before the major construction begins. 5) Water gathers on this portion of the road because of inadequate drainage. 6) The drains seem to be blocked somewhere along the line. 7) The problem is that the drains are not big enough. 8) The drains connected to the central drainage system are either broken or blocked.
The important issue here is that the noun drainage should never be used in its plural form because it is an uncountable noun. However, the word drain, referring to the pipe connected to the drainage system, is a countable noun and can be pluralized.
Beginners also have a tendency to be confused when it comes to the word sheep. Every user of English does know that it is utterly irrational to accept books as the plural form of book; houses as the plural form of house; trees as the plural form of tree; goats as the plural form of goat; etc and at the same time to say that the plural form of sheep is sheep! It is equally irrational, in the light of the plural formation by the addition of s or es or ies which characterizes many nouns, to say the plural form of ox is oxen; of tooth is teeth; of foot is feet.
Please read the following sentences: 1)This is a village in which every household owns at least one sheep. 2) The problem is that the sheep is always wandering around the neighbourhood. 3) During the festival each family is expected to slaughter a ram or a sheep. 4) Ten sheep were killed by a wolf. 5) The sheep that were stolen were later recovered. 6) Sheep are used by Christ as examples of simplicity and innocence.
Finally today, we examine the usage of the noun crisis and related forms. The singular form is crisis. Other words whose forms are similar to those of crisis (singular) and crises (plural) are: thesis (singular) and theses (plural); synthesis (singular) and syntheses (plural); hypothesis (singular) and hypotheses (plural).
The following sentences illustrate the usage of the singular form, crisis: 1) Thecrisis is threatening to tear the institution apart. 2) The crisis was responsible for the destruction of the values and structures for which the company was reputed. 3) The crisis is obviously assuming an ugly dimension. 4) The crisis was blamed on clashes of personalities. 5) The two factions kept insisting there wasno crisis. 6) Fortunately, the crisis is in the process of being resolved.
The following sentences illustrate the usage of the plural form, crises: 1) Political and social crises are tearing African nations apart. 2) The crises are such that can be easily resolved when people would agree to have a dialogue. 3) Internal crises are weakening our social institutions. 4) Many of the social crises that plague the lives of our youths are traceable to drug abuse. 5) The first and second republics were ruined by political crises that were motivated by selfishness and narrow-mindedness. 6) Crises are often good for the health of human relationships.
Next, we illustrate the usage of thesis (singular) and theses (plural). Thesis: 1) A thesis is a strong statement offering information on the focus of the research effort. 2) The thesis, though simple, is amply illustrated. 3) My thesis in this essay is that women are oppressed and discriminated against in many African societies. 4) Your thesis is not clearly stated, giving the impression that you have no clear idea of what you are saying. 5) The thesis is to be restated at every critical point in the development of the essay. 6) If your thesis is trite, you are not likely to come up with anything revolutionary.
Now we illustrate the usage of the plural form, theses: 1) The theses are to be submitted latest by Friday next week. 2) The confusion resides in the fact that two theses are stated in the introductory chapter. 3) All the badly written theses are to be returned to their authors. 4) The theses are rather speculative. 5) The five most brilliant theses are being stored electronically. 6) These theses are representative of all others.
and then