False singular

False singular

In English grammar, a false singular occurs when a singular noun ending in a "s" or "z" sound is understood as a plural from which a new singular is constructed. The false singular is a form of back-formation.

Some false singulars become standard English. For example, "pea" was originally a false singular from "pease" pl. "peasen". (The old word remains in the phrase "pease porridge".)

The non-standard historical forms "Chinee" and "Portuguee" are also false singulars, from "Chinese" and "Portuguese".


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