2007-01-01 22:58:22 · 4 answers · asked by algopa2005 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Crossroads uses the same form for both singular and plural. You can come to a crossroads. Or a town can have many crossroads.
Another one is series: You can watch a television series. NBC can air five new series this season.
Also headquarters: Our office is the company headquarters. Five companies have headquarters in our building.
Why? I have no idea. It's just one of the weird things about the English language, I guess.
2007-01-01 23:19:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some nouns are called collective nouns. The collective nouns have multiple members, for example crossroads-it takes at least 2 to cross. Collective nouns use a singular verb form.
The pride (of lions) sleeps.
Just a note collective noun uses a singular article as well.
"the pride," "the crossroads," or conversely "these crossroads" this last one would be more than one set of crossroads and thus would take the plural form of the verb.
2007-01-02 01:39:32 · answer #2 · answered by Elizabeth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a compound noun and is referring to one place ie THE PLACE where two roads cross. It is therefore singular.
eg 'This particular cross-roads is an accident black-spot.'
It would be incorrect to use 'cross-road'.
It does not have a plural form eg 'There are three cross-roads in this town where accidents frequently happen.'
2007-01-02 03:34:22 · answer #3 · answered by Palamino 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, because there maybe two or more roads in a cross-road, but there is just one cross-road.
2007-01-01 23:00:55 · answer #4 · answered by CrashBoy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋