English Grammar Class #09( Part-2)

Hello, Dear Friends! 

In our previous class #09(a), we discussed about the rules how Plural Nouns are formed from the Singular Nouns. In our class today we will continue to discuss about more rules of forming Plural Nouns from the Singular Nouns. Let's begin with keen interest and academic set of mind.

(X) Some Nouns have the Singular and Plural Nouns alike. For example: 

Sheep, Deer, Aircraft, Spacecraft, Series, Species, Innings, Dozen, Score, Gross, Hundred, Thousand (when used after numerals), news etc.

-(XI) Some nouns are used only in the Plural. For example:

1. Names of instruments which have two parts forming a kind of pair. As:

Bellows, Scissors, Tongs, Pincers, Spectacles etc.

2. Names of certain articles of dress. As:

Trousers, Drawers, Breeches, Jeans, Tights, Shorts, Pyjamas etc.

3. Names of subjects. As:

Mathematics, Physics, Electronics etc.

4. Names of some common disease. As:

Measles, Mumps, Rickets etc.

5. Names of some games. As:

Billiards, Draughts, Snakes and ladders etc.

(XIII) Some Collective nouns, though singular in form, are always used as Plurals. As: 

Poultry, Cattle, Vermin, People, Nation etc.

(XIV) Some compound nouns generally form their plural by adding (-s) to the principal word. As: 

Son-in- law ------------ Sons-in-law
Daughter-in-law ---------- Daughters-in-law
Son-in-law ------------ Sons-in-law
Stepdaughter ----------- Stepdaughters
Maidservant ------------ Maidservants
Passerby ----------- Passersby
Looker-on ----------- Lookers-on
Man-of-War ----------- Men-of-War
Commander-in-Chief -------------- Commanders-in-Chief.

We hope you find this and the previous class very valuable to clear your concepts about the rules to form Plural Nouns from the Singular Nouns.

If you have any questions regarding our classes, feel free to contact us into our inbox of our Facebook page English Speaking Club or here in comment box. We will be pleased to respond.

Best of luck.

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.