A pair of gloves ARE or IS...

0 "A pair" must always be singular (of course) but that doesn't stop most English speakers from getting it wrong! 0-

0 One pair of gloves is $10. Two pairs of gloves are $18.95. 02br
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00Same with ironing troussers 0-

0 "A pair of ---s" is treated as a singular noun when it stands as a subject in a main clause. 02br
01b00o02b00 This pair of gloves 01b00is02b00 stained with blood. 02br
01b00x02b00 This pair of gloves 01b00are02b00 stained with blood. 02br
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00But "a pair of ---s"

0Not foolproof, but a good guideline, Paco-- thanks. I think the singular demonstrative helps determine the number, too (or is it a side-effect?) 0-

0 I took the rules from the description of my E-J dictionary. 02br
00But actually looks like many people use "a pair of ---s" in a way against the first rule. 02br
00"A pair of shoes cost" hits 240 pages in Google whereas "A pair of shoes costs" does 221 pages. 02br
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00paco 0-

0Hi all02br
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00I am a bit confuse here... So strictly speaking what is the correct grammar ?02br
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00A pair of shoes cost OR A pair of shoes costs ?02br
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00Thanks0-

0The method of checking the number of hits on Google is not used to prove a grammatical rule, is it? One would do so, I'd think, only to get an idea of common usage.02br
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00I believe paco2004 on this, not Google. Thus, "A pair of shoes 01b00costs02b00..."0-

0Only one pair of jeans are clean.02br
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00A good pair of pliers are handy for repairing a bicycle. 02br
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00A pair of fancy sunglasses cost $250 at Harrods.0-

0 Obviously a difference in use-- I would use 'a pair is' in all of those sentences, Benita.02br
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00 'Which pair is clean?'02br
00 'This pair is clean.'02br
00 'Good- I'll wear them, then.'02br
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0-

0 QUOTE: I would use 'a pair is' in all of those sentences, Benita.02br
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00So would I. The Google hits test merely proves that most English speakers (including Americans) are fairly ignorant! 0-