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editors-in-chief, mothers-in-law, commanders-in-chief, coats-of-mail, men-of-war (военные корабли).
6. In compounds with a conjunction as a linking element the plural is taken by the second noun:
gin-and-tonics.
7. In compound nouns formed by a noun plus a preposition,
or an
adverb, or an adjective only the first
element takes the plural:
passers-by, lookers-on, courts-martial, attorneys-general.
8. When the compound is a substantivized phrase which does
not contain a noun, the last element takes the
plural ending –s:
forget-me-nots, breakdowns, stand-bys, grown-ups, close-ups,
pick-ups (случайные знакомства),
drop-outs (дезертиры),
go-betweens (посредники).
Invariable nouns
Invariable nouns cannot change their number, some of them are always singular in meaning (linguistics,
news), some denote plurality (cattle, police).
§ 175. Singular invariable nouns.
1. Here belong all non-count nouns:
a) material nouns - tea, sugar, gold, silver, oil, butter, sail. (As has been mentioned they may become
count nouns with a specific meaning: cheeses - kinds of cheese, beers - portions of beer, as two glasses
or cans of beer, two coffees, icecreams.)
b) absrract nouns - music, anger, foolishness.
2. Proper nouns:
The Thames, Henry.
3. Some nouns ending in -s:
a) news - Here is the 10 o’clock news;
means - by this means (этими средствами)
gallows - They fixed up a gallows (виселицу).
b) some diseases - measles (корь), mumps (свинка), rickets (рахит), shingles (краснуха);
However sometimes the usage varies: Mumps is/are a medical problem.
c) some games - billiards, bowls (гольф), dominoes, draughts (шашки);
But when used attributively no plural is used: a billiard table.
d) some proper nouns - Algiers, Athens, Brussels, Flanders, Marseilles, Naples, Wales, the United
Nations, thе United States.