Tuesday, 19 December 2023

The Noun Numbers / Singular And Plurals

The Noun Numbers / Singular And Plurals

  1. SINGULAR: A noun that denotes one person or thing, is called Singular Number. e.g. Boy, Cow, Bird, Book, Pen.
  2. PLURAL:  A noun that denotes more than one person or thing, is called Plural Number. e.g. Boys, Cows, Birds, Books, Pens.
FORMATION OF PLURAL
(i) By adding -s to singular noun:
SingularPlural
BoyBoys
BookBooks
BuildingBuildings
CatCats
ChairChairs
ChiefChiefs
ChimneyChimneys
CliffCliffs
ConstableConstables
CowCows
CuffCuffs
DaughterDaughters
DayDays
DeskDesks
DogDogs
DonkeyDonkeys
DwarfDwarfs
EyeEyes
FatherFathers
GirlGirls
GolfGolfs
HandfulHandfuls
HoofHoofs
HouseHouses
JourneyJourneys
KeyKeys
MonkeyMonkeys
MotherMothers
NoseNoses
PenPens
PlayPlays
ProofProofs
PuffPuffs
RoofRoofs
RoomRooms
ServantServants
ShoeShoes
SpoonfulSpoonfuls
TableTables
ToyToys
TreeTrees
VowelVowels
WayWays
WellWells

(ii) By adding -es to singular noun ending in -s, -sh, -ch (soft, or -x:
SingularPlural
AssAsses
BoxBoxes
BenchBenches
BranchBranches
BrushBrushes
BushBushes
ChurchChurches
ClassClasses
DishDishes
FoxFoxes
GasGases
InchInches
KissKisses
MatchMatches
TaxTaxes
WatchWatches
WishWishes
WitchWitches

(iii) By adding -es to singular noun ending in -o:
SingularPlural
BuffaloBuffaloes
CargoCargoes
EchoEchoes
HeroHeroes
MangoMangoes
MosquitoMosquitoes
NegroNegroes
PotatoPotatoes
TomatoTomatoes
VolcanoVolcanoes

(iv) By adding -s to singular noun ending in -o:
SingularPlural
CantoCantos
CommandoCommandos
DynamoDynamos
KiloKilos
LogoLogos
MementoMementos
PhotoPhotos
PianoPianos
QuartoQuartos
SoloSolos
StereoStereos
RatioRatios

(v) By changing -y into -i and adding -es to singular noun ending in -y (preceded by a consonant):
SingularPlural
ArmyArmies
BabyBabies
BodyBodies
CityCities
CopyCopies
CountryCountries
CryCries
DutyDuties
EnemyEnemies
FamilyFamilies
FairyFairies
FlyFlies
HobbyHobbies
LadyLadies
LorryLorries
PennyPennies
SkySkies
StoryStories

(vi) By changing -f or -fe into -v and adding -es to singular noun ending in -f or -fe:
SingularPlural
CalfCalves
ElfElves
HalfHalves
KnifeKnives
LeafLeaves
LifeLives
LoafLoaves
SelfSelves
SheafSheaves
ShelfShelves
ThiefThives
WifeWives
WolfWolves

* For some Nouns ending in -f or -fe take either -s or -ves in the plural
SingularPlural
DwarfDwarfs or Dwarves
HoofHoofs or Hooves
ScarfScarfs or Scarves
WharfWharfs or Wharves

* For some Nouns ending in -f or -fe, by adding -s:
SingularPlural
ChiefChiefs
CliffCliffs
GulfGulfs
HanderkerchiefHanderkerchiefs
ProofProofs
SafeSafes

(vii) A few noun form their plural by changing their inside vowel or vowels such as:
SingularPlural
FootFeet
GooseGeese
LouseLice
ManMen
MouseMice
Mr.Messrs
ToothTeeth
WomanWomen

(viii) By adding -en to the singular of a few nouns:
SingularPlural
ChildChildren
OxOxen

(ix) A compoun noun generally form its plural by adding -s to the main word:
SingularPlural
Class-fellowClass-fellows
Commander-in-chiefCommanders-in-chief
Coat-of-mailCoats-of-mail
Daughter-in-lawDaughters-in-law
Father-in-lawFathers-in-law
Looker-onLookers-on
Maid-servantMaid-servants
Man-of-warMen-of-war
Man-servantMen-servant
Mother-in-lawMothers-in-law
Passer-byPassers-by
Sister-in-lawSisters-in-law
Son-in-lawSons-in-law
Step-daughterStep-daughters
Step-sonStep-sons

(x) Some nouns have the same word for singular and the plural, such as:
SingularPlural
AircraftAircraft
CodCod
DeerDeer
DozenDozen
FishFish (Commonly plural form),
 Fishes (unusual plural form - Fishes is referring to more than one spicies of fish i.e. different kinds, especially in scientific context)
GrossGoss
HundredHundred
PairPair
SalmonSalmon
ScoreScore
SeriesSeries
SheepSheep
SpacecraftSpacecraft
SpeciesSpecies
SwineSwine
TroutTrout

REMEMBER: Some nouns are only use in plural form
  • Name of instruments which have two parts:
    Bellows, Gallows, Pincers, Scissors, Spectacles, Tongs.

  • Name of certain articles of dresses:
    Drawers, Jeans, Pyjamas, Shorts, Socks, Tights, Trousers, Breeches, 

  • Some other nouns:
    Alms, Annals, Assets, Innings, Riches, Thanks, Tidings, Proceeds (of a sale), Environs, Eaves, Nuptials, Obsequies.

  • Certain Collective nouns, though singular in form are always used as plural.
    Cattle, Flock, Gentry, Hair, People, Poultry, Scenery,Vermin
    (Note: As a common noun 'People' means a nation and is used in both singular and plural.)

REMEMBER: Some nouns look plural but are in fact singular:
  • Name of subjects:
    Electronics,  Mathematics, Physics etc.

  • Name of some common disease:
    Measles, Mumps, Rickets

  • Name of some games:
    Billiards, Draughts.

  • Other Nouns:
    News

  • Letters, figures and other symbols are made plural by adding an apostrophe, as:
    * e's, a's etc.
    * 5's, 9's etc.
    * B.A's

REMEMBER: Many nouns taken from foreign language keep their original plural form:

SingularPlural
From Latin
ErratumErrata
FormulaFormulae OR Formulas
IndexIndices
MemorandumMemoranda
RadiusRadii
TerminusTermini OR Terminuses
From Greek
AnalysisAnalyses
AxisAxes
BasisBases
CrisisCrises
CriterionCriteria
HypothesisHypotheses
ParenthesisParentheses
PhenomenonPhenomena
From Italian
BanditBanditti OR Bandits
From French
Madame (Madam)Mesdames
MonsieurMessieurs
From Herbew
CherubCherubim OR Cherubs
SeraphSera

REMEMBER: Some nouns have two forms for the plural, each with different meaning:
SingularPlural
Brother (i) Brothers: Sons of the same parents
 (ii) Brethren: Members of a society or a community.

Cloth (i) Cloths: Kinds or pieces of cloth
 (ii) Clothes: Garments
Die (i) Dies: Stamps for coining.
 (ii) Dice: Small cubes used in games.

Index(i) Indexes: Tables of contents to books.
(ii) Indices: Signs used in algebra.

Penny(i) Pennies: Number of coins
(ii) Pence: Amount in value.


REMEMBER: Some nouns Have one meaning in the singular, two in the plural:
SingularPlural
Colour (Hue)
Colours
 (i) Hues 
 (ii) The flag of a regiment

Customs (Habit)
Customs 
 (i) Habits
 (ii) Duties levied on imports.

Effect (Result)
Effects
 (i) Results.
 (ii) Property.

Ground
(i) Earth
(ii) Reason
Grounds
 (i) Enclosed land attached to house
 (ii) Reasons
 (iii) Dregs

Letter
(i) Letter of the alphabet
(ii) Epistle
Letters
 (i) Letters of alphabet
 (ii) Epistles

Manner (Method)
Manners
 (i) Methods
 (ii) Correct behaviour

Moral (A moral lesson)
Morals
 (i) Moral lessons
 (ii) Conduct

Number (A quantity)
Numbers
 (i) Quantities
 (ii) Verses

Pain (Suffering)
Pains
 (i) Sufferings
 (ii) Care, Exertions

Premise (Proposition)
Premises
 (i) Propositions
 (ii) Buildings.

Quarter (Fourth part)
Quarters
 (i) Fourth parts
 (ii) lodgings

Spectacle (A sight)
Spectacles
 (i) Sights
 (ii) Eye-glasses


REMEMBER: Some nouns have two meanings in the singular but only one in the plural:
SingularPlural
Light
 (i) Radiance
 (ii) a Lamp

 Lights (Lamps)

People
 (i) Nation
 (ii) Men and women

 Peoples (Nations)

Powder
 (i) Dust
 (ii) A dose of medicine in flue grains like dust

 Powders (Doses of medicine)

Practice
 (i) Habit
 (ii) Exercise of a profession

Practices (Habits)


  • Abstract Nouns have no plural. They are uncountable:
    Hope, Charity, Love, Kindness

  • Names of substances are also uncountable and are not therefore used in the plural:
    Copper, Iron, tin, Wood

  • Some Nouns use as singular form only:
    Advice, Abuse
Note: Such nouns have different meanings in the singular and the plural, as:
  1. Singular: Advice (Counsel)
    Plural: Advices (Information)

  2. Singular: Air (Atmosphere)
    Plural: Airs (Affected manners)

  3. Singular: Good (Benefit, well-being)
    Plural: Goods (Merchandise)

  4. Singular: Compass (Extent, range)
    Plural: Compasses (An instrument for drawing circle.)

  5. Singular: Respect (Regard)
    Plural: Respects (Compliments)

  6. Singular: Physic (Medicine)
    Plural: Physics (Natural Science)

  7. Singular: Iron (A kind of metal)
    Plural: Irons (Fetters)

  8. Singular: Force (strength)
    Plural: Forces (Troops)

  9. Singular: Copper (A kind of metal)
    Plural: Coppers (Copper coins)

  10. Singular: Tin (A kind of  metal)
    Plural: Tins (Cans made of tins

  11. Singular: Wood (Branches  of tree)
    Plural: Woods (Forest)


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