Police in English: Singular or Plural?

The word police is tricky for many English learners. Should you say police is or police are? The answer depends on context.

In most cases, police is treated as a plural noun because it refers to a group of officers. For example, you would say The police are coming to handle the situation. Here, the meaning is about several officers, not one.

But what if you are only talking about one person? Then, you should use officer instead of police. For example, The officer is coming. This makes your sentence grammatically correct and clear.

Sometimes, police can be used as singular when referring to the organization itself, rather than the people. For example, The police is investigating the crime. In this case, police means the institution, not the group of officers.

This grammar rule is important in both spoken and written English. Using the wrong form can make your English sound unnatural or confusing.

Watch the video, learn the examples, and practice making your own sentences. Understanding when police is singular or plural will make your English more accurate and professional.