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Singular and Plural Nouns
Nouns are the words used as the names of persons, animals, places, things, ideas or events.
There are two types of nouns in English Grammar. One refers to the singular noun and the other refers to the plural noun.
These two nouns are also otherwise called the singular number and the plural number.
When a noun refers to one person or thing, it is said to be in the Singular Noun/Number.
Singular Noun Examples:
These Singular Nouns can be categorised in the following manner.
singer, dancer, artist, photographer, magician, driver, officer, doctor, engineer, principal, peon, labor, nurse, shopkeeper, gatekeeper, sweeper, salesman, philosopher, teacher, minister, president, businessperson, writer, student, friend, boy, girl, toddler, baby, teenager, woman, man, person etc.,
bank, airport, continent, country, state, city, town, village, hotel, school, classroom, university, college, park, shop, coffee shop, zoo, water park, mall, supermarket, post office, police station, house, laboratory, library, museum, stadium, building, restaurant, temple, mosque, church, etc.,
ruler, chair, mobile, dictionary, carpet, lawnmower, bus, computer, courage, telephone, spade, printer, hammer, bicycle, pen, table, ship, calculator, crayon, sofa, truck, television, pencil, fridge, book, lamp, ladder, train, cooker, whiteboard, marker, duster, register, map, globe etc.,
When a noun refers to more than one person or thing, it is said to be in the Plural Noun/Number.
Plural Noun Examples:
rooms, tables, computers, pieces of chalk, students, teachers, parents, books, pens, stories etc.,
Forming of Plural Noun:
There are various RULES to form plural nouns from singular. Most of the rules have been provided here.
They are as follows:
Examples:
Rule No 2: When Nouns end in –’o’, we generally add –’es’ to form plurals:
Exception 1: Though some nouns end in –’o’, we add only ‘s’.
Rule No 3: When a noun ends in –’o’ but preceded by a vowel, we add only “s”.
Rule No 5: When Nouns end in –’y’ and –’y’ is preceded by a consonant, we change the ‘y’ into ‘i’ and add -’es’ to form plurals.
Exception: But, in case –’y’ is preceded by a vowel, we add only –’s’.
Rule No 7: When Nouns end in ‘f’ or ‘fe’, we replace it with –‘v’ and then add -‘es’ to form the plural.
Exception 1: The following nouns become plural when we add only ‘s’.
Exception 2: But for some nouns, we can add both -’s’ or –’ves’. Both are correct.
Exception: We add -’en’ to a few nouns to make them plural.
Rule No 10: Some nouns have two types of plural forms
Rule No 11: Some nouns are used only in the plural form
Names of certain tools and things:
bellows, scissors, spectacles, binoculars, glasses, goggles, sunglasses
headphones, pliers, tweezers, tongs, pincers, chopsticks etc.
Names of clothes and footwear:
shorts, trousers, panties, briefs, drawers, tights, jeans, pants, pyjamas, clothes, shoes, sandals, gloves, slippers, boots, socks etc.
Note: We can use ‘a pair of’ with these plural nouns.
a pair of trousers, a pair of pants, a pair of glasses, a pair of scissors, a pair of chopsticks, a pair of sandals, a pair of gloves etc.,
Certain other different nouns:
earnings, belongings, assets, congratulations, thanks, annals,
outskirts, premises, surroundings, environs, alms, riches, eaves etc.,
Certain Collective Nouns:
Poultry, cattle, vermin, people, gentry, children etc.,
Names of subjects and others:
mathematics, physics, economics, electronics, news, innings, politics, wages, ethics etc.,
Names of some common diseases:
measles, mumps, rickets etc.,
Names of some games:
billiards, draughts, carroms etc.,
knowledge, information, stationery, luggage, furniture, homework, scenery, bread, expenditure money, power etc.,
Some nouns that refer to number, weight etc., if preceded by numerals.
dozen, gross, hundred, thousand, horse-power, million-foot etc.,
Note: But, we add –’s’ to these nouns if they are used without numerals and are followed by ‘of’.
1.Some nouns can be added –’es’ in place of –’is’ to make them plural
2. Some Nouns that end in -’a’ can be added -’e’ to make the plural
3. Some nouns can be added –’i’ in place of –’us’ to make them plural
4. Some nouns can be added –’a’ in place of –’um’ to make them plural
4. Some nouns can be added –’ices’ in place of –’ex/ix’ to make them plural
7. Some nouns that end in –’ma’ can be added –’ta’ to make them plural
8. The following words are from French:
Greek and Latin Nouns Worksheets
Rule No 16: Some Nouns have two plural forms each with a different meaning.
signs used in algebra
spirits or ghosts
2. men or women
2. a dose of medicine
2. exercise of a profession
2. radiance
Rule No 18: Some nouns have one meaning in the singular, but two in the plural.
2.weapons
2. the flags of a regiment
2.duties levied on imports
2.correct behaviour
2.proceedings of a meeting
2.conduct
2.verses
2) property
2.care, exertion
2.lodgings
2.eye-glasses
2. buildings
2.epistle
2.epistles
3.literature
1.Proper Nouns:
India, Telangana, Warangal, Ashoka, Mary, Ganga etc
Note.1 When a Proper Noun is used in the plural, it becomes a Common Noun.
He is a Bruce Lee in fighting.
Kalidasa is called the Shakespeare of India
Note.2 But Some Nouns can be used in Plural like
The United States of America, The Alps, The Himalayas etc.,
2.Abstract Nouns:
Hope, charity, love, kindness, friendship, death, beauty etc.,
Note: When the Abstract Noun is used in the plural, it becomes a Common Noun.
Truly, the beauties of Kashmir are enticing.
3.Material Nouns:
Copper, iron, tin, wood, glass, rice, oil etc.,
Note: When a Material Noun is used in the plural, it becomes a Common Noun
He does not have any coppers with him. (copper coins)
The convict has been found in irons. (fetters)
Last summer, we enjoyed ourselves in the nearby woods. (forests)
Singular and Plural Nouns
Singular and Plural Nouns
Nouns are the words used as the names of persons, animals, places, things, ideas or events.
There are two types of nouns in English Grammar. One refers to the singular noun and the other refers to the plural noun.
These two nouns are also otherwise called the singular number and the plural number.
Singular Noun Definition:
When a noun refers to one person or thing, it is said to be in the Singular Noun/Number.
Singular Noun Examples:
These Singular Nouns can be categorised in the following manner.
singer, dancer, artist, photographer, magician, driver, officer, doctor, engineer, principal, peon, labor, nurse, shopkeeper, gatekeeper, sweeper, salesman, philosopher, teacher, minister, president, businessperson, writer, student, friend, boy, girl, toddler, baby, teenager, woman, man, person etc.,
bank, airport, continent, country, state, city, town, village, hotel, school, classroom, university, college, park, shop, coffee shop, zoo, water park, mall, supermarket, post office, police station, house, laboratory, library, museum, stadium, building, restaurant, temple, mosque, church, etc.,
ruler, chair, mobile, dictionary, carpet, lawnmower, bus, computer, courage, telephone, spade, printer, hammer, bicycle, pen, table, ship, calculator, crayon, sofa, truck, television, pencil, fridge, book, lamp, ladder, train, cooker, whiteboard, marker, duster, register, map, globe etc.,
Plural Noun Definition:
When a noun refers to more than one person or thing, it is said to be in the Plural Noun/Number.
Plural Noun Examples:
rooms, tables, computers, pieces of chalk, students, teachers, parents, books, pens, stories etc.,
Forming of Plural Noun:
There are various RULES to form plural nouns from singular. Most of the rules have been provided here.
They are as follows:
Rule No 1: Most of the Nouns in English form their plural noun by adding ‘s’ at the end of a singular noun.
Examples:
Rule No 2: When Nouns end in –’o’, we generally add –’es’ to form plurals:
Examples:
Exception 1: Though some nouns end in –’o’, we add only ‘s’.
Exception 2: But for some nouns, we can add ‘s’ and ‘es’. Both are correct.
Rule No 3: When a noun ends in –’o’ but preceded by a vowel, we add only “s”.
Examples:
Rule No 4: When Nouns end in -s, -sh, -ch (soft), or -x, we add -’es’ to form plurals:
Examples:
Rule No 5: When Nouns end in –’y’ and –’y’ is preceded by a consonant, we change the ‘y’ into ‘i’ and add -’es’ to form plurals.
Examples:
Exception: But, in case –’y’ is preceded by a vowel, we add only –’s’.
Rule No 6: When Nouns end in -’ch’ and ‘ch’ is pronounced as ‘k’, we add –’s’ to form the plural.
Examples:
Rule No 7: When Nouns end in ‘f’ or ‘fe’, we replace it with –‘v’ and then add -‘es’ to form the plural.
Examples:
Exception 1: The following nouns become plural when we add only ‘s’.
Exception 2: But for some nouns, we can add both -’s’ or –’ves’. Both are correct.
Rule No 8: We change inside vowels of some nouns to make them plural
Examples:
Exception: We add -’en’ to a few nouns to make them plural.
Rule No 9: Some nouns are the same in singular and plural.
Examples:
Rule No 10: Some nouns have two types of plural forms
Examples:
Rule No 11: Some nouns are used only in the plural form
Names of certain tools and things:
bellows, scissors, spectacles, binoculars, glasses, goggles, sunglasses
headphones, pliers, tweezers, tongs, pincers, chopsticks etc.
Names of clothes and footwear:
shorts, trousers, panties, briefs, drawers, tights, jeans, pants, pyjamas, clothes, shoes, sandals, gloves, slippers, boots, socks etc.
Note: We can use ‘a pair of’ with these plural nouns.
Examples:
a pair of trousers, a pair of pants, a pair of glasses, a pair of scissors, a pair of chopsticks, a pair of sandals, a pair of gloves etc.,
Certain other different nouns:
earnings, belongings, assets, congratulations, thanks, annals,
outskirts, premises, surroundings, environs, alms, riches, eaves etc.,
Certain Collective Nouns:
Poultry, cattle, vermin, people, gentry, children etc.,
Rule No 12: Some nouns are used only in the singular form
Names of subjects and others:
mathematics, physics, economics, electronics, news, innings, politics, wages, ethics etc.,
Names of some common diseases:
measles, mumps, rickets etc.,
Names of some games:
billiards, draughts, carroms etc.,
Certain Collective Nouns:
knowledge, information, stationery, luggage, furniture, homework, scenery, bread, expenditure money, power etc.,
Some nouns that refer to number, weight etc., if preceded by numerals.
dozen, gross, hundred, thousand, horse-power, million-foot etc.,
Examples:
Note: But, we add –’s’ to these nouns if they are used without numerals and are followed by ‘of’.
Examples:
Rule No 13: Change of Compound Nouns into plural:
Examples:
Rule No 14: In the case of letters, numbers, and abbreviations, we add an apostrophe and -’s’ to make them plural.
Examples:
Rule No 15: Some Greek and Latin Nouns can form their plurals in the following manner:
1.Some nouns can be added –’es’ in place of –’is’ to make them plural
Examples:
2. Some Nouns that end in -’a’ can be added -’e’ to make the plural
Examples:
3. Some nouns can be added –’i’ in place of –’us’ to make them plural
Examples:
4. Some nouns can be added –’a’ in place of –’um’ to make them plural
Examples:
4. Some nouns can be added –’ices’ in place of –’ex/ix’ to make them plural
Examples:
6. Some nouns can be added –’a’ in place of –’on’ to make them plural
Examples:
7. Some nouns that end in –’ma’ can be added –’ta’ to make them plural
Examples:
8. The following words are from French:
Examples:
Greek and Latin Nouns Worksheets
Rule No 16: Some Nouns have two plural forms each with a different meaning.
Examples:
signs used in algebra
spirits or ghosts
Rule No 17: Some Nouns have two meanings in the singular but only one in the plural:
Examples:
2. men or women
2. a dose of medicine
2. exercise of a profession
2. radiance
Rule No 18: Some nouns have one meaning in the singular, but two in the plural.
Examples:
2.weapons
2. the flags of a regiment
2.duties levied on imports
2.correct behaviour
2.proceedings of a meeting
2.conduct
2.verses
2) property
2.care, exertion
2.lodgings
2.eye-glasses
2. buildings
2.epistle
2.epistles
3.literature
Rule No 19: Some nouns have different meanings in the singular and in the plural.
Examples:
Rule No 20: Some nouns are normally used in the plural.
1.Proper Nouns:
India, Telangana, Warangal, Ashoka, Mary, Ganga etc
Note.1 When a Proper Noun is used in the plural, it becomes a Common Noun.
He is a Bruce Lee in fighting.
Kalidasa is called the Shakespeare of India
Note.2 But Some Nouns can be used in Plural like
The United States of America, The Alps, The Himalayas etc.,
2.Abstract Nouns:
Hope, charity, love, kindness, friendship, death, beauty etc.,
Note: When the Abstract Noun is used in the plural, it becomes a Common Noun.
Truly, the beauties of Kashmir are enticing.
3.Material Nouns:
Copper, iron, tin, wood, glass, rice, oil etc.,
Note: When a Material Noun is used in the plural, it becomes a Common Noun
Examples:
He does not have any coppers with him. (copper coins)
The convict has been found in irons. (fetters)
Last summer, we enjoyed ourselves in the nearby woods. (forests)
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