English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
DAMAGE or DAMAGES?
Damage is an uncountable noun that means a physical harm that is caused to an object. It cannot attract the article, “a” and cannot be pluralised:
Strong winds had caused ~a serious damage~ to the roof (nonstandard).
Strong winds caused ~serious damages~ to the roof (nonstandard).
Strong winds had caused serious damage to the roof (standard).
Damages (always in plural form) means money that is paid to someone by a person or organisation who was responsible for causing some injury or loss:
They were awarded $500,000 for the ~damage~ (nonstandard).
They were awarded $500,000 in damages (standard).
GAB
