Common mistakes with plurals

1. Names:
• Darío Amancha
• Patricio Castillo
• Elvis Guaranga
GRAMMAR V
COMMON MISTAKES WITH PLURALS

2. COMMON MISTAKES WITH PLURALS
There are two types of common noun:
 Countable nouns
 Uncountable nouns

3. Countable nouns are things which can be counted or we can
add “s” in plural
Example:
One book – Two books

4. Uncountable nouns are usually things which can't be
counted. These can be: weather, emotions, natural. We
cannot add “s” in plural
Example:
Money, rice, water

5. Sometimes there is not much logic to whether a noun is
countable or uncountable.
Example:
“Work” is uncountable “job” is countable.
“Trip” is countable, “travel” is uncountable.
“Word” is countable, “vocabulary” is uncountable.

6. UNCOUNTABLE PLURALS
We sometimes use uncountable nouns in plural forms.
In liquids or substances, it usually takes on the meaning of
"cups of", "bottles of" or "types of".
Examples:
We'll have two coffees. CUPS OF COFFEE
I bought three waters. BOTTLES OF WATER

7. advice Could you give me some
advice?
dust The old table was covered with
dust.
electricity Electricity runs through this wire.
equipment Could you give me a list of the
equipment we need for the trip?
evidence What evidence is there against
John?

8. WORDS THAT CAN BE BOTH
COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE
There are some words that can be used as countable and
uncountable nouns, such as: coffee, yogurt, light.
Example:
 Uncountable: Coffee is my favorite drink.
 Countable: Could you buy two coffees and two teas, please?

9. There are a few words that change their meaning depending on
if they used in a countable way or an uncountable way.
Hair
Countable = one hair
Urg! There's a hair in my food!
Uncountable = all the hair on a
person's head
She has very beautiful hair.
Paper
Countable = a newspaper
I bought all the papers this
morning.
Uncountable = paper in general
Could you give me some paper to
write on?
Light
Countable = a single lamp or light
bulb
The Christmas tree was covered in
lights.
Uncountable = light in general
The room was full of light.

10. NOUNS WHICH ARE ALWAYS PLURAL
Some nouns are always used in a plural form and with a plural
verb. Sometimes you can use phrases like 'one pair of' or 'three
pairs of' if you'd like to count them. It is more used in clothes,
tools that have two parts.

11. Trousers My trousers are too long.
Tights I need to wear tights with
this dress.
Shorts He bought some blue
shorts.
Scissors There are three pairs of
scissors in the drawer.

12. UNCOUNT NOUNS THAT END IN –S
Some uncountable nouns end in -s so they look like plurals even
though they are singular nouns.
Subjects of study: mathematics, physics, economics, etc.
Activities: gymnastics, athletics, etc.
Games: cards, darts, billiards, etc.
Diseases: mumps, measles, rabies, etc.

13. EXAMPLES:
 Incorrect: She likes to feed the poors.
Correct: She likes to feed the poor.
 Incorrect: He is working for the blinds.
Correct: He is working for the blind.
 Incorrect: Please put your sign here.
Correct: Please put your signature here.
 Incorrect: She has bought two dozens apples.
Correct: She has bought two dozen apples.

14. CORRECT THE MISTAKES
 I heard these news in the morning.
I heard this news in the morning.
 This fabric is superior than that fabric.
This fabric is superior to that fabric.
 He is most intelligent boy in our class.
He is the most intelligent boy in our class.
 The teacher gave us many advices.
The teacher gave us some advices.

15.  People have two foots.
People have two feet.
 Some people are afraid of mouses.
Some people are afraid of mice.
 My childs were playing in the street when they saw the
accident.
My children were playing in the street when they saw the
accident.
 There are so many beautiful womans in the world.
There are so many beautiful women in the world.