Why a plural verb (are-were) is used for trousers or pants but a singular one...

Hi there.
You got it in your question!
A trouser was a single tube placed over the leg, later the two were combined and we still call it a pair. Pantaloons (panys is short for this) were the same for ladies.
A shirt is a single garment and need not have sleeves at all, a sleeve is the equivalent of a trouser but for arms!
Cheers, Steve.
 
The choice of a singular or a plural verb comes, not from the object (pants - shirt), but from the one doing the action.

So, we say, "I am [singular] putting on my shirt".
"We are [plural] putting on our shirts".
"He is [singular] putting on his pants".
"They are [plural] putting on their pants".
 
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