dijous, 4 de març del 2010

Singular and plural


Singular Noun Definition: When a noun means one only, it is said to be singular.
Examples: boy, girl, book, church, box

Plural Noun Definition: When a noun means more than one, it is said to be plural.
Examples: boys, girls, books, churches

Rule #1
The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding - s to a singular noun.

lamp lamps
cat cats
fork forks
flower flowers
pen pens

Exercise: Write the plural of each of these nouns

chair star farm
storm door rock
owner paper cup

Rule #2
Nouns ending in
s, z, x, sh, and ch form the plural by adding - es.

moss mosses
buzz buzzes
box boxes
dish dishes
church churches

Rule #3
Nouns ending in - y preceded by a consonant is formed into a plural by changing - y to
- ies. Examples: lady, ladies; city, cities; army, armies

Rule #4
Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding
- s.
Example: boy, boys; day, days

Rule #5
Most nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant is formed into a plural by adding es. Example: hero; heroes; grotto, grottoes

Rule #6
Some nouns ending in f or fe are made plural by changing f or fe to - ves. Example: beef, beeves; wife, wives



IRREGULAR PLURALS

man, men foot, feet mouse, mice
woman, women tooth, teeth louse, lice
child, children ox, oxen goose, gees

The following nouns have no singular:


scissors

oats

tongs

dregs
trousers pinchers bellows snuffers
cattle shears measles mumps
victuals tweezers vespers

Some nouns are always singular. Some of these nouns may be used in the plural when different kinds are meant as sugars, coffees, cottons

gold silver wheat corn
molasses copper sugar cotton

To do exercises and see more information:
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/substantiv.htm


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