Jennifer Lindsay*

One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so'. So went the line in the number song Green Grow the Rushes O that I learned at primary school. Indeed, in English the singular is clearly marked off from the plural. There is one, and then there are many.

We clearly mark the singular-plural distinction in English by adding 's' to make nouns plural; one thing, two things. Except when we do not, of course; one ox, two oxen; one child,