Question

Which of the following statements is true regarding nouns like ATHLETICS, GENETICS, POLITICS, GYMNASTICS, STATISTICS?

a. They are always singular.
b. They are always plural.
c. They can be singular or plural depending on context.
d. They are only plural when referring to organized activities.

Answer 1

Nouns like ATHLETICS, GENETICS, POLITICS, GYMNASTICS, and STATISTICS can be singular or plural depending on context.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement "c. They can be singular or plural depending on context" is true regarding nouns like ATHLETICS, GENETICS, POLITICS, GYMNASTICS, and STATISTICS.

These nouns are usually regarded as singular in meaning and therefore take a singular verb. However, they can also be used with a plural verb when they refer to a specific situation or context.

For example, when we say "The politics of the situation are complicated," we are using the plural verb because we are referring to a specific situation.