Question

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the best option from those given below.

I have bought a new _____.

• A. Spectacle
• B. Spectacles
• C. pair of spectacle
• D. pair of spectacles

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

pair of spectacles

A few plural nouns, like spectacles, refer to things that have two parts. Such two-part nouns are called plurale tantum. The Oxford English Dictionary defines plurale tantum, which is Latin for “plural only,” as a “noun which is used only in the plural form even when there is only one item being discussed". To make it clear we are talking about one of these items, we use 'a pair of'. According to this, option D, 'pair of spectacles' is the correct answer.

Option A is incorrect because when we are referring to the optical instrument, it is important that we use the plural form 'spectacles'; also a spectacle could mean something presented to view as extraordinary or remarkable.

Option B is incorrect because it is lacking 'pair of' which is required to make it clear that we are referring to one specific item.

Option C is incorrect because it is a rule that we use the plural form 'spectacles' with 'pair of' to be grammatically correct.