Pair and Group Nouns

We use a pair noun for a thing made of two parts which are the same. Some pair nouns are binoculars, glasses, jeans, pants, pyjamas, scissors, shorts, tights, trousers.

A pair noun is plural and takes a plural verb.

• My jeans need washing, NOT my-jean

• These tights were quite expensive, NOT this-tight

• We've got some scissors somewhere, NOT a-scissor?

We cannot use a/an or a number with a pair noun. But we can use pair of.

• I need some jeans, OR I need a pair of jeans, NOT a jean

• Laura bought four pairs of tights, NOT four-tights