The difference between 'damage' and 'damages'

Many pupils often write, 'Floods cause a lot of damages to crops.' They think that damages means ' a lot of destruction'. This is wrong usage. Actually, there is a difference between 'damage' and 'damages'. The former means 'destruction' while the latter carries the meaning of 'compensation'.

Let us look at the following sentences to see the difference in meanings.

1 Damage had been done when broke my prized vase. [destruction]
2 He paid damages to me for breaking my prized vase. [compensation]