This is a chest of drawers or These are a chest of drawers?

Hi Sephen;

This is a chest of drawers.

It is one piece of furniture.

If you want more examples:

This is a pair of pants.

This is a pair of scissors.

CSnyderIf you want more examples: This is a pair of pants.This is a pair of scissors.

Thank you very much.

I often have difficulty in handling such expressions.

Sometimes I would say "they/these are pants" and "they/these are scissors".

But I feel uneasy with them, because they or these expresses more than one.

stephenlearnerIt seems to me that sentences like "it is a pant" or "it is a scissor" is not correct.
Could you give comments?
Thanks.
Stephen

Hi Stephen;

Some things come in pairs and cannot be separated.

The pair is singular, the items are plural.

A pair of scissors is handy when you are wrapping gifts. (singular

Thank you very much!

Stephen

Hi,

I try not to be greedy, but a question in my mind does not go away.

If I want to refer to just one of a pair of pants, can I use pant?

For example, there is a sticker on one of the pants; can I say

"tear off the sticker from your pants ";

"tear off the sticker from your pant ";

"tear off the sticker from that pant "; or

stephenlearnerIf I want to refer to just one of a pair of pants, can I use pant?

No.

Pant is a verb.

The dog was panting heavily after the long chase.

stephenlearnerFor example, there is a sticker on one of the pants; can I say
"tear off the sticker from your pants ";
"tear off the sticker from

Great help.

Thank you.

Stephen