Trust vs. Trusts – Which is Correct?
“Trust” and “trusts” are both correct, but they serve different grammatical roles. “Trust” is the base form, a singular noun, or a verb used with I, you, we, and they. “Trusts” is the plural noun or third-person singular present-tense verb. Choose based on the subject and meaning of the sentence.
Trust or Trusts – Which is Correct?
Trust and trusts are both valid American English words. The correct choice depends on whether you need a singular noun, a plural noun, or a verb that agrees with a singular third-person subject.
- Trust: Use it as a singular noun or as the base form of the verb.
- Trusts: Use it as the plural of the noun trust or as the present-tense verb for he, she, or it.
As a noun, trust means confidence in someone or something, while trusts can refer to multiple relationships of confidence or multiple legal arrangements that manage property. As a verb, trust means to believe someone is reliable, and trusts is used with a singular subject.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the he, she, it test. If the subject is he, she, or it, add -s: “She trusts her advisor.” With I, you, we, or they, use trust: “They trust their advisor.” For nouns, remember that one feeling or legal arrangement is a trust, while more than one is trusts.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| trust | Singular noun or base-form verb | Confidence, or to believe someone is reliable | I trust my colleague. |
| trusts | Plural noun or third-person singular verb | More than one trust, or trusts used with he, she, or it | She trusts her colleague. |
How to Use Trust
Trust can function as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it describes confidence in a person, institution, idea, or process: “Trust is essential in a strong partnership.” As a verb, it means to rely on someone or believe that person is honest, capable, or dependable.
The word is common in casual conversation but also appears frequently in formal writing, business communication, psychology, law, politics, and personal relationships. It can be followed by a noun, pronoun, infinitive, or clause.
Example 1: The company worked hard to earn the public’s trust.
Example 2: We trust the engineer’s assessment of the building.
Example 3: You can trust the system to protect your personal information.
What are the different forms of Trust?
As a noun, the plural form is trusts. As a regular verb, its main forms are trust, trusts, trusted, and trusting. Use trust with I, you, we, and they in the present tense. Use trusts with he, she, and it. The past-tense and past-participle form is trusted, and the present participle is trusting.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form: trust | They trust her judgment. |
| Third-person singular: trusts | He trusts her judgment. |
| Past tense: trusted | The team trusted its original plan. |
| Present participle: trusting | She is trusting the data. |
| Plural noun: trusts | The attorney manages several trusts. |
Etymology of the word Trust
Trust comes from Old Norse traust, meaning help, confidence, or strength. It entered Middle English through related Germanic forms and gradually developed its modern meanings involving confidence, reliability, dependence, and legal property management.
How to Use Trusts
Trusts has two main uses. As a noun, it is the plural of trust and may describe multiple relationships of confidence or multiple legal arrangements in which property is managed for beneficiaries. In legal and financial writing, this meaning is especially common.
As a verb, trusts is the third-person singular present-tense form of trust. It must follow a singular subject such as he, she, it, or a singular noun.
Example 1: She trusts her doctor to explain the treatment clearly.
Example 2: The estate includes several trusts for charitable purposes.
Example 3: The organization trusts its volunteers to represent it responsibly.
What are the different forms of Trusts?
When trusts is a verb, it is the third-person singular present form. The corresponding base form is trust, the past-tense form is trusted, and the present participle is trusting. When trusts is a noun, it is simply the plural form of trust.
Etymology of the word Trusts
Trusts is formed by adding -s to trust. The ending marks either a plural noun or a third-person singular present-tense verb. Its historical meaning comes from the same Germanic root associated with confidence, security, and reliance.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement and singular and plural forms makes the difference between trust and trusts easy to identify.
- Subject-verb agreement: A present-tense verb must match its subject. Singular subjects such as she and the manager take trusts, while plural subjects such as they and the managers take trust.
- Singular and plural nouns: A singular noun refers to one person, thing, idea, or legal arrangement. The plural noun trusts refers to more than one.
- Verb inflection: Verb endings can change according to tense or subject. The -s in trusts signals a third-person singular present-tense verb.
- Legal terminology: In estate planning, a trust is a legal arrangement for holding and managing assets. Multiple arrangements are called trusts.
Examples from Media and Literature
The words trust and trusts appear across storytelling, journalism, film, and nonfiction because confidence and reliability are central themes in human relationships.
- Shakespearean drama: In Othello, trust and suspicion shape the relationships between the main characters, demonstrating how quickly confidence can be damaged.
- Children’s literature: In The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, friendship and trust develop through time, care, and emotional responsibility.
- Fantasy literature: In The Lord of the Rings, characters must decide whom they trust while facing deception, danger, and divided loyalties.
- Film: In mystery and crime films, a detective often trusts evidence rather than appearances, while a suspect trusts or distrusts the people conducting the investigation.
- News reporting: Articles about public institutions frequently discuss whether citizens trust officials, companies, or media organizations.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- I ______ my sister to keep the information confidential. (trust / trusts)
- The financial advisor manages several family ______. (trust / trusts)
- He ______ the mechanic’s recommendation. (trust / trusts)
- Strong relationships depend on mutual ______. (trust / trusts)
- The committee members ______ the independent researcher. (trust / trusts)
Answer Key
- trust — The subject I takes the base verb.
- trusts — More than one legal arrangement is described.
- trusts — The singular subject he requires the third-person singular form.
- trust — The sentence refers to confidence as a singular, uncountable concept.
- trust — The plural subject committee members takes the base verb.
Trust Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Confidence | A strong belief in someone’s reliability, ability, or honesty |
| Faith | Strong belief or confidence, sometimes without direct proof |
| Reliance | Dependence on someone or something for support or results |
| Belief | Acceptance that someone or something is truthful or dependable |
| Rely on | To depend on someone or something |
Trusts Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Relies on | Depends on someone or something |
| Believes | Accepts something as true or considers someone dependable |
| Counts on | Expects someone or something to provide support or fulfill a need |
| Legal arrangements | Structures that hold and manage property for beneficiaries |
| Foundations | Organizations or structures established to manage assets or support causes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “trust” or “trusts” correct?
Both are correct. Use trust for a singular noun or with I, you, we, and they. Use trusts for a plural noun or with he, she, and it in the present tense.
Question 2: Is “trusts” the plural of “trust”?
Yes. When referring to multiple feelings of confidence or multiple legal arrangements, the plural of trust is trusts.
Question 3: Should I write “they trust” or “they trusts”?
Write they trust. The subject they is plural and takes the base form of the verb. The form trusts is used with a singular third-person subject, as in “She trusts them.”
Conclusion
Trust is the singular noun and base verb, while trusts is either the plural noun or the third-person singular present-tense verb. Use the subject test to choose correctly: “They trust,” but “She trusts.” Pro Tip: Accurate subject-verb agreement strengthens your professional reputation by making your writing appear careful, polished, and credible.
