Singular and Plural Singular and Plural NounsNouns

GrammarGrammar Guide Guide

mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ KoninPWSZ Konin

A A nounnoun isis::

a person:a person:a teacher a teacher // a chef a chef // a student a student // a doctor a doctor

a place: a place: a city a city // a school a school // a beach a beach // a kitchen a kitchen

a thing: a thing: a bus a bus // a table a table // a cow a cow // a bed a bed // a house a house

Common Nouns and Proper NounsCommon Nouns and Proper Nouns

A noun that names any A noun that names any person, place, or thing person, place, or thing isis a common nouna common noun..

a housea house

A noun that names a A noun that names a particular person, place, particular person, place, or thing isor thing is a proper noun.a proper noun.

the White Housethe White House

Singular and Plural NounsSingular and Plural Nouns

A noun that names only A noun that names only oneone person, place, or thing person, place, or thing is called a is called a singular nounsingular noun..

a pencil

A noun that names A noun that names more more than onethan one person, place, or person, place, or thing is called a thing is called a plural plural noun.noun.

pencils

Plural Nouns: RulesPlural Nouns: Rules

Most English nouns form the plural Most English nouns form the plural with with –s–s..

roadroad roadsroads

bagbag bagsbags

towntown townstowns

girl girl girlsgirls

trucktruck truckstrucks

Plural Nouns: RulesPlural Nouns: Rules

If the singular form ends in If the singular form ends in ss // xx / / zz / / chch / / shsh, the plural is made by and adding , the plural is made by and adding –es–es

churchchurch churcheschurches

crashcrash crashescrashes

busbus busesbuses

box box boxesboxes

dishdish dishesdishes

Plural Nouns: RulesPlural Nouns: Rules

If the singular form ends in If the singular form ends in consonantconsonant ++ yy, , the plural is made by the plural is made by changing changing yy to to ii and and adding adding –es–es

babybaby babiesbabies

ladylady ladiesladies

partyparty partiesparties

ferryferry ferriesferries

Plural Nouns: RulesPlural Nouns: Rules

If the singular form ends in If the singular form ends in vowelvowel ++ yy, the , the plural is made by adding plural is made by adding –s–s

dayday daysdays

boyboy boysboys

donkeydonkey donkeysdonkeys

keykey keyskeys

toy toy toystoys

Plural Nouns: RulesPlural Nouns: Rules

If the singular form ends in If the singular form ends in consonantconsonant ++ oo, the plural is , the plural is made by adding made by adding –es–espotatopotato potatoespotatoestomatotomato tomatoestomatoesherohero heroesheroes

But:But: Some words ending in Some words ending in consonantconsonant ++ oo, especially words , especially words

from other languages, take from other languages, take –s–s only onlyphotophoto photosphotospianopiano pianospianoskilokilo kiloskilos

Plural Nouns: RulesPlural Nouns: Rules

If the singular form ends in If the singular form ends in vowel + ovowel + o, the , the plural is made by adding plural is made by adding –s–s

radioradio radiosradios

videovideo videosvideos

zoozoo zooszoos

Plural Nouns: RulesPlural Nouns: Rules If the singular form ends in If the singular form ends in –f–f // –fe–fe , the plural is usually , the plural is usually

made by adding made by adding –ves–vescalfcalf calvescalveshalfhalf halveshalveslifelife lives lives leafleaf leavesleaves

But:But: Several words ending in Several words ending in –f–f and all those ending and all those ending –ff–ff just just

take take –s–s: : chief chief chiefschiefsbelief belief beliefsbeliefscliff cliff cliffscliffs Some words ending in Some words ending in –f–f take either plural ending: take either plural ending: scarf scarf scarfs/scarvesscarfs/scarves. You can check irregular plurals in a dictionary.. You can check irregular plurals in a dictionary.

Plural Nouns: IrregularsPlural Nouns: Irregulars Some nouns have special plural forms. Since Some nouns have special plural forms. Since

these words follow no special pattern, you these words follow no special pattern, you must must learnlearn them them.

person person people people child child childrenchildrenmanman /mæn//mæn/ men men /men//men/womanwoman /ˈwʊmən//ˈwʊmən/ womenwomen /ˌwɪm.ɪn/ˌwɪm.ɪn//foot foot feetfeettooth tooth teethteethmouse mouse mice mice goose goose geesegeese

Nouns withNouns with n no Singular Formo Singular Form Some English nouns are more common in the plural Some English nouns are more common in the plural

form. These occur in a number of categories:form. These occur in a number of categories:

clothing: clothing: clothes, jeans, trousers, pyjamasclothes, jeans, trousers, pyjamas,, tools/equipment: tools/equipment: scissors, glassesscissors, glasses (= spectacles),(= spectacles),

handcuffshandcuffs games: games: dominoes, darts, cards, bowlsdominoes, darts, cards, bowls subjects/activities: subjects/activities: physics, maths, politics, physics, maths, politics,

economics, aerobics, athleticseconomics, aerobics, athletics other: other: goods, remains, thanks, stairs, policegoods, remains, thanks, stairs, police

These nouns may have a singular form with a different These nouns may have a singular form with a different meaning, e.g.: meaning, e.g.: a glassa glass (= wine glass).(= wine glass).