English Grammar Class #09 (Part-1)

Hello, Dear Friends!


In our class today, we are going to discuss about the Noun Number. Keeping in view the length of the class, we are going to divide the class into two equal parts.


-First of all, we will discuss the definitions of Singular & Plural Nouns:


(I) Singular Number ----------------- A noun that mentions one person or thing, is said to be in the singular number. For example: Boy, Girl, King, Queen, Tree, Table, Sorrow.


(II) Plural Number------------- A noun that mentions more than one person or thing is said to be in the plural number. For example: Boys, Girls, Kings, Queens, Trees, Tables, Sorrows.


The next thing is to understand the rules which are applied to form Plural Nouns from the Singular Nouns. They are given below.


(i) By adding (-s) to the singular nouns. For example:


-Book ----------- Books
-Pen ------------ Pens
-Desk ---------- Desks
-Cow ----------- Cows


(ii) By adding (-es) to the singular nouns that end in -s, -sh, -ch, or -x. For example:


-Class ------------ Classes
-Dish ----------- Dishes
-Brush ------------ Brushes
-Match ----------- Matches
-Branch ------------ Branches
-Tax ---------- Taxes
-Box ---------- Boxes.


(iii) By adding (-es) to the singular nouns that end in -o. For example:


-Buffalo ---------- Buffaloes
-Mango ------------ Mangoes
-Cargo ------------- Cargoes
-Echo ------------- Echoes
-Volcano ------------ Volcanoes


(iv) By adding (-s) to the singular nouns that end merely in -o. For example:


-Dynamo ----------- Dynamos
-Solo --------------- Solos
-Ratio ------------- Ratios
-Piano ----------- Pianos
-Kilo ----------- Kilos


(v) Singular nouns ending in -y, preceded by a consonant, form their plural by changing -y into -i and adding (-es). For example:


-Baby ------------ Babies
-Lady ----------- Ladies
-City --------- Cities
-Army ---------- Armies
-Pony ---------- Ponies


(vi) Singular nouns that end in -f or -fe, form their plural by changing -f or -fe into 'v' and adding (-es). For example:


-Thief --------- Thieves
-Wife --------- Wives
-Wolf ----------- Wolves
-Life -------- Lives
-Calf -------- Calves
-Loaf ---------- Loaves
-Knife ---------- Knives
-Elf ----------- Elves


(vii) The singular nouns like 'dwarf', 'hoof', 'scarf' and 'wharf' take either -s or -ves in the plural. For example:


-Dwarf --------- Dwarfs or Dwarves
-Hoofs --------- Hoofs, hooves
-Scarf -------- Scarfs, Scarves
-Wharf --------- Wharf, Wharves


(viii) A few singular nouns form their plurals by changing the inside vowel of the singular. For example:


-Man --------- Men
-Woman ----------- Women
-Foot --------- Feet
-Goose ----------- Geese
-Mouse ----------- Mice
-Louse ---------- Lice


(ix) There are a few singular nouns that form their plural nouns by adding (-en) to the singular. For example:


-Ox ---------- Oxen
-Child ------- Children


We hope you find today's tutorial very comprehensive for your understanding and benefit.

If you have any questions regarding to this tutorial, your queries are welcome in our inbox of our Facebook page English Speaking Club

Best of luck.