The next topic that we need to study in Nouns is numbers, or what is more commonly understood as Singular and Plural.
Before proceeding ahead let us answer the question why do we need to study numbers in nouns? The answer is two fold:
- First, we could have a single item or more than one of the same in a sentence.
We need to adequately represent them.
Example: We could have a single student studying; we could also have two or more
students studying. We need to show that there is more than one student.
- Second, the number of the subject (whether the subject is singular or plural) decides the
number of the verb. Example: The student (singular noun) studies (plural verb) Physics,
The students (plural noun) study (singular subjects) physics.
The rules for converting singular nouns to plural nouns are as follows:
- By adding ‘-s’: This is the simplest and the most common method of converting a singular noun to its plural form.
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Boys Boys
Chair Chairs
Table Tables
Computer Computers
- A few nouns ending with –o also convert to their plural form by simply adding –s;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Piano Pianos
Commando Commandos
- A few nouns ending with –f or -fe also convert to their plural form by simply adding –s;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Chief Chiefs
Cliff Cliffs
- By adding ‘-es’ to nouns ending with –s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Dress Dresses
Dish Dishes
Branch Branches
Tax Taxes
Echo Echoes
- For nouns ending with –y preceded by a consonant change –y to –i and add –es;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Baby Babies
Army Armies
City Cities
- Some nouns ending with –f or –fe, by changing –f or –fe to –v and adding –es;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Thief Thieves
Wife Wives
- Some nouns ending with –f or –fe, form their plural by either taking –s or –ves;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Dwarf Dwarfs, Dwarves
Hoof Hooves
- Some nouns make their plurals by changing the vowel;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Man Men
Woman Women
- Some nouns form their plurals by adding –en to the singular noun;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Ox Oxen
Child Children
Remember:
- There are certain nouns which have the same form for Singular as well as Plural;
Example:
Swine, Sheep
- Certain nouns which are names of instruments having two parts are always used in their plural form;
Example:
Spectacles, Scissors
- Names of certain clothing items are always used in their plural form;
Example:
Trousers, Jeans
- Certain nouns like names of subjects, some common diseases and some games are always in the plural form;
Example:
Physics, Measles, Billiards.
- Certain Collective Nouns though singular in form are always used as plurals;
Example:
Poultry, Cattle, People.
- Certain nouns have two forms as their plurals, both with different meanings;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Brother Brothers (from the same parents)
Brethren (from the same community)
Cloth Cloths (pieces of cloth)
Clothes (garments)
- Certain nouns have two meanings in the singular but one in plural;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Light - beam
Lights -
Lamps- a lamp
People - men & women
Peoples – nations - nation
Certain nouns have one meaning in the singular but two in plural; Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Custom - habit Customs – habits - duties levied in the form of taxes.
Pain – suffering Pains – sufferings - efforts
- Certain nouns have different meanings in the singular and the plural;
Example: Singular Noun Plural Noun
Air – atmosphere Airs – manners
Respect – regard Respects – compliments
- Abstract nouns do not have plural forms, as they are uncountable;
Example:
Patriotism, Love, Empathy
A major advantage of studying the above rules is that it helps one to learn the spellings of plural nouns.
Reference: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/nouns.htm
High School English Grammar and Composition – Wren & Martin
