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Saturday, February 4, 2023

Nouns (Number)

Nouns (Number)

Nouns can be singular or plural

Singular Number denotes one person or thing.
Examples : ant, boy, apple, glass, etc

Plural Number denotes more than one person or thing.
Examples : ants, boys, apples, glasses, etc.

Countable Nouns

Nouns that name the things we can count are called countable nouns.
Examples : one boy, four boys.

Uncountable Nouns

Nouns that name the things that cannot be counted are called uncountable nouns.
Examples : milk, sugar, coffee, etc.

Making Plurals

  • We add -s to many nouns to make them plural.
    SingularPlural
    boyboys
    bookbooks
    cowcows
    dogdogs
    doordoors
    eggeggs
    friendfriends
    treetrees
    mapmaps
    ratrats
    traintrains
    tigertigers
    kitekites
    umbrellaumbrellas

  • When the noun ends with -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, we add -es to the singular form to make the plural.
    SingularPlural
    assasses
    churchchurches
    batchbatches
    boxboxes
    busbuses
    bushbushes
    watchwatches
    taxtaxes
    foxfoxes
    glassglasses
    branchbranches
    peachpeaches
    brushbrushes
    torchtorches

  • When the noun ends in -y and there is a consonnt before it, we change -y into -i and add -es.
    SingularPlural
    jellyjellies
    ladyladies
    partyparties
    citycities
    ponyponies
    puppypuppies
    spyspies
    fairyfairies
    familyfamilies
    berryberries
    bodybodies
    cherrycherries
    babybabies
    diarydiaries
    deitydeities
    storystories
    librarylibraries
    flyflies

  • When the noun ends with -y with a vowel before it, we add -s at the end to make the plural.
    SingularPlural
    hankeyhankeys
    trolleytrolleys
    turkeyturkeys
    valleyvalleys
    storeystoreys
    toytoys
    traytrays
    airwayairways
    donkeydonkeys
    keykeys
    monkeymonkeys
    rayrays
    baybays
    boyboys

  • When the noun ends with -f or -fe, we change -f or -fe into -v and add -es at the end to make the plural.
    SingularPlural
    shelfshelves
    thiefthieves
    wifewives
    wolfwolves
    halfhalves
    knifeknives
    leafleaves
    loafloaves

  • When the noun ends with -f, we only add -s to make the plural in some cases.
    SingularPlural
    roofroofs
    proofproofs
    chiefchiefs
    cliffcliffs

  • When the noun ends with -f we can also form the plural by adding -s at the end or by changing -f to -v and adding -es at the end.
    SingularPlural
    scarfscarfs/scarves
    wharfwharfs/wharves
    dwarfdwarfs/dwarves
    hoofhoofs/hooves

  • When the noun ends with -o, we add -es at the end to make the plural.
    SingularPlural
    volcanovolcanoes
    tornadotornadoes
    mosquitomosquitoes
    potatopotatoes
    tomatotomatoes
    heroheroes
    mangomangoes
    buffalobuffaloes
    cargocargoes
    echoechoes

  • Sometimes when the noun ends with -o, we form the plural by adding only -s at the end.
    SingularPlural
    kimonokimonos
    pianopianos
    photophotos
    rhinorhinos
    bamboobamboos
    cuckoocuckoos
    dynamodynamos
    hippohippos
    kangarookangaroos
    zoozoos

  • We make many plurals by changing the vowels.
    SingularPlural
    mousemice
    toothteeth
    womanwomen
    goosegeese
    louselice
    manmen

  • Some nouns have same singular and plural forms.
    SingularPlural
    salmonsalmon
    sheepsheep
    shellfishshellfish
    fishfish
    reindeerreindeer
    deerdeer

  • Some nouns have no singular form.
    slippers, boots, shorts, jeans, pants, stockings, trousers, pyjamas, goggles, spectacles, scissors, gloves, binoculars, shoes, sandals, tongs

  • Given below are plural forms of compound nouns :
    SingularPlural
    commander-in-chiefcommanders-in-chief
    step-motherstep-mothers
    washermanwashermen
    father-in-lawfathers-in-law
    passer-bypassers-by
    son-in-lawsons-in-law
    brother-in-lawbrothers-in-law

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