Meaning & use
foot patrols
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“foot patrols” is a form of “foot patrol”.
Meaning
nounplural
groups of soldiers or police officers who patrol an area by walking rather than using vehicles
Grammar: Always plural in this form; use 'a foot patrol' for one group. Takes a plural verb: 'Foot patrols were sent into the area.'
Patterns
- conduct foot patrols
- send out foot patrols
- foot patrols in an area
The army increased foot patrols along the border after the attack.
Foot patrols are often more effective than vehicles in narrow city streets.
Police foot patrols have helped reduce crime in the neighborhood.
Word forms
| singular | foot patrol |
|---|
Common combinations
- conduct foot patrols
- The unit conducts foot patrols every night.
- regular foot patrols
- Regular foot patrols make residents feel safer.
- increase foot patrols
- The city decided to increase foot patrols downtown.
- foot patrols in the area
- There are foot patrols in the area around the stadium.
Synonyms and how they differ
- walking patrols
- A more general term; 'foot patrols' is the standard military and police expression.
- beat patrols
- Refers specifically to police officers walking a regular route called a 'beat'; 'foot patrols' is broader.
Opposites
Word family
- foot patrol noun
- The singular form: one group patrolling on foot.
- patrol verb
- To move around an area regularly to guard or watch it.
Commonly confused: foot patrols or foot patrol?
foot patrols vs foot patrol
This is the singular; 'foot patrols' is plural. Make sure the verb agrees: 'A foot patrol was sent' but 'Foot patrols were sent'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Foot patrols' is plural, so it takes the plural verb 'were'. Option 1 uses the singular 'was', option 3 uses 'patrol' without the plural -s, and option 4 mixes 'a' with a plural noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “foot patrols”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.