Introduction to Nouns – part 3 Singular vs. Plural Nouns

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS In English plurals are formed by adding –s to the singular noun: one pen two pen s one bulb two bulb s one lesson two lesson s

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS

In English plurals are formed by adding –s to the singular noun:

one pen two pen s

one bulb two bulb s

one lesson two lesson s

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS If the singular noun ends in: -s -sh -tch -x -o, the plural is formed by adding –es: one bu s two bus es one bru sh two brush es one kis s two kiss es one no tch two notch es one bo x two box es one tomat o two tomato es

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS

If the singular noun ends in:

-s -sh -tch -x -o,

the plural is formed by adding –es:

one bu s two bus es

one bru sh two brush es

one kis s two kiss es

one no tch two notch es

one bo x two box es

one tomat o two tomato es

REMEMBER! Words of foreign origin or abbreviated (shortened) words ending in -o, take ‘s’ only: one kilo two kilo s (shortened from ‘kilogram’) one kimono two kimono s (foreign word) one photo two photo s (shortened from ‘photograph’) one piano two piano s (foreign word) one soprano two soprano s (foreign word)

REMEMBER!

Words of foreign origin or abbreviated (shortened) words ending in

-o,

take ‘s’ only:

one kilo two kilo s (shortened from ‘kilogram’)

one kimono two kimono s (foreign word)

one photo two photo s (shortened from ‘photograph’)

one piano two piano s (foreign word)

one soprano two soprano s (foreign word)

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS If the singular noun ends in a consonant + (-y), in the plural, -y changes to –ie + s: one story ( ‘r’ + y) two stor ies one country (‘r’ +y) two countr ies one baby (‘b’ + y) two bab ies BUT: one boy (‘o’ + y) two boy s

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS

If the singular noun ends in a consonant + (-y),

in the plural,

-y changes to –ie + s:

one story ( ‘r’ + y) two stor ies

one country (‘r’ +y) two countr ies

one baby (‘b’ + y) two bab ies

BUT:

one boy (‘o’ + y) two boy s

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS If the singular noun ends in: -f (except –ff) or -fe in the plural, –f changes to –v + es: one wife two wi ves one life two li ves one knife two kni ves one half two hal ves ‘ I respect myself . ‘ They respect themsel ves ’

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS

If the singular noun ends in:

-f

(except –ff) or -fe in the plural, –f changes to –v + es:

one wife two wi ves

one life two li ves

one knife two kni ves

one half two hal ves

‘ I respect myself .

‘ They respect themsel ves ’

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS Some nouns are always plural: TROUSERS GLASSES SCISSORS SHEEP

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS

Some nouns are always plural:

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS COLLECTIVE NOUNS like crew, family, team, staff can behave as singular if the people are treated as a unit: ‘ Our team is working very hard to meet the deadline.’ as plural if the people are treated as individuals: ‘ Our team are getting drunk in the pub down the road.’

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS

COLLECTIVE NOUNS like crew, family, team, staff can behave

as singular if the people are treated as a unit:

‘ Our team is working very hard to meet the deadline.’

as plural if the people are treated as individuals:

‘ Our team are getting drunk in the pub down the road.’

REMEMBER! The word ‘police’ is always plural and always takes a plural verb: ‘ The police are investigating a series of allegations of fraud against Mr Archer.’

REMEMBER!

The word ‘police’ is always plural and always takes a plural verb:

‘ The police are investigating a series of allegations of fraud against Mr Archer.’

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS Common IRREGULAR PLURALS: one mouse many mice one tooth many teeth one foot many feet one child many children one man many men one woman many women

SINGULAR vs. PLURAL NOUNS

Common IRREGULAR PLURALS:

one mouse many mice

one tooth many teeth

one foot many feet

one child many children

one man many men

one woman many women

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