Singular or plural

Question

Do we say "Do your glasses fit?" even when we refer to one pair of glasses only? Could we say "Do your pair of glasses fit?" to narrow down to one pair? Do we say "Where are my pants/shorts?" even when we refer to one pair. Could we say "Where are my pair of pants/shorts?" to narrow down to one pair?
Do we say "their child" or "their children" when we refer to the children of a group of people who have only one child each?
Do we refer to "family" as a singular or plural?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

healerDo we say "Do your glasses fit?" even when we refer to one pair of glasses only? Could we say "Do your pair of glasses fit?" to narrow down to one pair? Do we say "Where are my pants/shorts?" even when we refer to one pair. Could we say "Where are my pair of pants/shorts?" to narrow down to one pair?

Don't say "pair" in these situations!

Say:
Do your glasses fit?
Where are my pants?
Where are my trousers?
Where are the scissors?
Where are your shorts?

healerDo we say "their child" or "their children" when we refer to the children of a group of people who have only one child each?

children

The parents brought their children to the party.
(even if each set of parents had only one child)

healerDo we refer to "family" as a singular or plural?

In most cases American English uses the singular, and British English uses the plural.

CJ

Singular or plural

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