Why "The News Are Good" Is Incorrect: Understanding Singular Nouns

Many native English speakers, including former presidents like Donald Trump, often overlook the subtleties of the language when it comes to plural and singular forms, leading to errors in common phrases. A classic example is the sentence 'The news are good', which is incorrect. While it may seem logical to many to treat 'the news' as plural, it is, in fact, a singular noun. This article aims to clarify this particular usage and provide a comprehensive understanding of why The news is good.

The Incorrect Construction: "The News Are Good"

The sentence The news are good is not correct. Even though the appearance of the word 'news' can lead to the assumption that it should be plural, the noun 'news' is always treated as singular. Similarly, one wouldn't say 'That are fake news'—an example highlighting the improper form.

Understanding Singular Nouns

It is a common mistake to think that 'news' is always plural because of its form. The word 'news' is a singular, uncountable noun that does not have a plural form. This means that it should always be paired with the singular verb form 'is'.

For instance, consider the correct construction:

The news is good. The news about the tragedy has been developing all day.

These sentences are grammatically correct because 'the news' is treated as a singular whole rather than as a collection of individual news stories.

Differences in Usage Across Regions

It is important to note that regional differences can influence how 'the news' is treated in its singular or plural form. In most American English contexts, 'the news' is treated as a singular construct and therefore takes the singular verb. However, in some British English contexts, the focus can be on the items that make up the news, causing a shift towards a plural form.

Common Confusion Roots

The confusion arises because 'news' is formed from the adjective 'new' and looks like it should be plural. However, these two words serve distinct grammatical roles. 'New' is an adjective, while 'news' is a singular, uncountable noun. This is why it is crucial to use the correct verb form.

Here are a couple of correct uses to illustrate this further:

The news is good. The news reports are merging from all over the world.

In the second sentence, the plural verb 'reports' is used because it refers to individual news stories, not the overall concept of news.

Uncountable Nouns

The uncountability of 'news' is also reflected in other uncountable nouns like 'water', 'sand', 'information', etc. These nouns are always singular and do not change form. Despite their plural appearance, they do not allow for plural verb forms.

Dig deeper into the nuances of singular and plural nouns:

Water is clear. (not 'waters is') The sand is fine. (not 'the sands are') The information is accurate. (not 'the informations are')

These examples illustrate the importance of understanding the grammatical nature of words, especially when dealing with uncountable or collective nouns.

Conclusion

In summary, the sentence 'The news are good' is incorrect, and the correct form is 'The news is good.' This article has provided a comprehensive explanation of why the noun 'news' is singular and how it impacts the verb form in sentences. Understanding these nuances can greatly improve one's English language skills and avoid common mistakes in everyday usage.