There are nouns that are only, or mainly, used in the singular number.
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nouns in the singular number
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| Examples | |
| collective nouns | Getreide, Obst, Vieh, Geflügel, Gepäck |
| abstract nouns | Stolz, Mut, Treue, Gesundheit, Toleranz |
| nominalized adjectives/infinitives | Böse, Vollendete / Fernsehen, Kochen |
| nouns that refer to materials | Fleisch, Käse, Gold, Schnee, Tabak |
| units of measurement (masculine or neuter) | 5 Kilo Orangen, 2 Glas Bier, 100 Euro, mit 2 Liter Wasser |
And other nouns that are only, or mainly, used in the plural number.
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nouns in the plural number
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| Examples | ||
| collective nouns | people | die Eltern, die Leute, die Gebrüder |
| other | die Spirituosen, die Möbel, die Lebensmittel | |
| geographical names | countries | die USA, die Niederlande |
| mountain ranges | die Alpen, die Anden | |
| island groups | die Philippinen, die Seychellen | |
| other | die Ferien, die Festspiele, die Kosten | |