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I am learning Spanish with Collins Easy Learning Spanish. It gives the follow example:
The stairs are over there. = Las escaleras están allí.
The stairs are over there, to your right. = La escalera está allí, a su derecha.
Why does one use the plural form (están) and the other the singular form (está)?
I thought stairs would have to be in the plural, so shouldn't it always be están?
Both work fine. Escalera can be used in the singular — equivalent to staircase— or the plural —equivalent to stairs
escalera (DRAE 23.ª ed.)
1. f. Conjunto de peldaños o escalones que enlazan dos planos a distinto nivel en una construcción o terreno, y que sirven para subir y bajar. U. t. en pl. con el mismo significado que en sing.
That note at the end of the definition says "used also in the plural with the same meaning as in the singular".
Escalera is one of those annoying words that are used as a singular or a plural noun. See DRAE:
- f. Conjunto de peldaños o escalones que enlazan dos planos a distinto nivel en una construcción o terreno, y que sirven para subir y bajar. U. t. en pl. con el mismo significado que en sing.
