Some furniture

Question

Hi,As we all know the word furniture is an uncountable noun.So when I say,"There was some furniture there?"  would it be ok? or should I say there were some furniture there?

Vorpar · Accepted Answer

"There was some furniture there?" is correct.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Furniture is used in the grammatical singular, not plural.
It is a collective noun.

The furniture in the apartment was old and threadbare.

Cybercrystal · Answer

what about this one?

five slices of bread is enough. if I use are, that'd be wrong, right?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

cybercrystalfive slices of bread is enough. if I use are, that'd be wrong, right?

No.

Slices is plural.
Five slices are enough to make sandwiches for lunch.

CalifJim · Answer

cybercrystalfive slices of bread is enough. if I use are, that'd be wrong, right?

I would accept this one either way. You can look at the slices individually and count them up into a plural conceptually, or you can look at the total amount as a singular aggregate.

Five slices of bread is/are enough.
Ten policemen is/are enough.
Five dollars is enough. (I wouldn't use are here.)
Seven minutes is enough time. (I wouldn't use are here.)
Three feet of string is enough. (I wouldn't use are here.)

It seems that with measurements of the basics (length, height, time, money, etc.) it's easier to conceive of a plurality as really a singular amount.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CalifJimTen policemen is/are enough.

I would not use "is" in this sentence. I would use a word meaning the organizational unit with a small number of men:

One squad of police is enough.

I agree with the other choices:
Ten slices of bread is/are enough for a meal.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi
the word `furniture `is uncountable noun. It is treated as plural
for the reference the oxford advanced learners English dictionary.

singular is ` a piece of furniture`

Some furniture

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