What’s the plural of “pliers”?
- Pliers are a plural-only noun.
The pliers are in the toolbox.
Can you hand me a pair of pliers? (correct way to refer to one tool)
I bought a new plier.
The pliers is rusty.
Plural-only nouns, like the name suggests, have no singular noun form and are only referred to as a plural noun (for the most part). With items or objects that are made up of pieces or parts, we refer to them as a plural, since they’re technically made of more than one thing. Common objects like glasses, trousers, jeans, goggles, and so on, are all made of parts or pairs, and so are referred to exclusively as plural nouns.
What’s the singular of pliers?
To refer to a single pair of pliers, you would use the phrase ‘a pair of pliers.’ As in, ‘Can you please hand me a pair of pliers?’ In other words, in practice and conversation, ‘pliers’ usually means one item (or pair).
What are pliers?
Collins-Dictionary defines pliers as:
A tool with two handles at one end and two hard, flat, metal parts at the other. Pliers are used for holding or pulling out things such as nails, or for bending or cutting wire.
“pliers” is plural-only, visualize a pair of pliers—two separate parts working together; always use “a pair of pliers” for a single tool.
Plural-only nouns
The following objects and nouns are exclusively used as plural nouns in English, with no singular noun form.
“Pliers”, used in sentences
1. He gripped the sole with a pair of pliers and began to peel it back.
2. Have you got a pair of pliers?
3. Pass me that pair of pliers, please.
4. The best way to open it is with pliers.
5. Piers was at her side in a moment when he saw the trouble she was having, pliers in hand, tying the cans tightly so that no spaces were left.
Origin of the word pliers
From etymology online on pliers (n.):
“Small pincers with long jaws adapted for holding small articles,” 1560s, plural agent noun from ply (v.2). French cognate plieur meant “folder”.
What’s the difference between they’re, their, and there?
Work Sheet
According to the post, is the noun “pliers” singular or plural?
What is the correct way to refer to a single tool known as “pliers”?
Which sentence correctly uses the noun “pliers” according to the post?
The post states that plural-only nouns typically refer to items made of:
Which of the following is listed in the post as another example of a plural-only noun?
The __________ are on the workbench.
Can you hand me __________ of pliers?
I need to borrow your __________ to fix this wire.
He gripped the sole with a __________ of pliers.
His old __________ were getting rusty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “pliers” singular or plural?
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What is the singular form of pliers?
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How do I use “pliers” correctly?
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Can I say “a plier”?
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Why is “pliers” always plural?
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Yash, D. "Are Pliers Plural or Singular? What’s the Singular of Pliers?." Grammarflex, Jun 6, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-pliers/.
Sources
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Definition of pliers.
