English Grammar - Classification of nouns - Number

English Grammar Module 3 - Classification of nouns: Number

Based on number, nouns are classified as:

1. Singular nouns

2. Plural nouns

1. Singular nouns

Nouns that indicate a single person, place or thing, are called Singular nouns.

Examples: man, dog, river, table

2. Plural nouns

Nouns that indicate more than one person, place or thing, are called Plural nouns.

Examples: men, dogs, rivers, tables

Formation of plural when singular noun is given:

Rule 1: Addition of suffix

Suffix  : -s

Plural noun is formed by adding -s to the singular noun.

Singular - Plural

book - books

pen- pens

tree - trees

number - numbers

chair - chairs

mirror - mirrors

glove - gloves

laptop - laptops

apple - apples

movie - movies

Suffix : -es

Plural noun is formed by adding -es when the singular noun ends with 'o' or 'ch'

Singular noun ending with 'o'

Singular - Plural

mango - mangoes

cargo - cargoes

volcano - volcanoes

buffalo - buffaloes

hero - heroes

Singular nouns ending with 'ch' or 'sh'

Singular - Plural

match - matches

catch - catches

batch - batches

wish - wishes

pouch - pouches

brush - brushes

Suffix: -ies

Plural noun is formed by adding -ies when the singular noun ends with a consonant succeeded by y.

Singular - Plural

baby - babies

city - cities

body - bodies

trophy - trophies

family - families

policy - policies

Suffix: -ves

Plural noun is formed by removing f or fe and adding -ves when the singular noun ends with f or 'fe'.

Singular noun ending with f

Singular - plural

half - halves

calf - calves

wolf - wolves

scarf - scarves

leaf - leaves

Singular noun ending with fe

Singular - Plural

knife - knives

wife - wives

life - lives

Exception: Plural noun is formed by adding -s when singular noun ends with f or fe.

Singular - plural

gulf - gulfs

cliff - cliffs

chief - chiefs

Suffix: -i

Plural noun is formed by removing -us from the singular noun and adding -i.

Singular - Plural

radius - radii

fungus - fungi

nucleus - nuclei

focus - foci

cactus - cacti

Rule 2: Change in vowels

Plural noun is formed by changing the vowels of singular noun.

Singular - Plural

man - men

mouse - mice

louse - lice

goose - geese

tooth - teeth

Irregular formation of plural nouns

Plural noun is formed different from singular noun, without application of any specific rule.

Singular - Plural

ox - oxen

child - children

index - indices

analysis - analyses

phenomenon - phenomena

mitochondrion - mitochondria

bacterium - bacteria

die - dice

penny - pence

thesis - theses

Singular and plural noun forms are same in some cases.

Examples:

series

species

sheep

deer

fish