Definitions and explanations
English grammar belongs to the number of discussions or objects discussed. Understanding these concepts is important for appropriate construction of proposals and communication. Singular
Singular
Definition: Singular indicates that there is a person, place, thing, or idea.
Examples:
Nouns: “cat”, “book”, “city”
Pronouns: “he”, “she”, “it”
Use:
In a sentence, singular nouns and pronouns are used to refer to a single entity. For example:
“The cat sleeps.”
“She loves to read.”
Plural
Definition: The plural indicates that there are two or more people, places, things, or ideas.
Examples:
Nouns: Cats ,Books, Cities
Pronouns: They ,We ,Them.
Usage:
Plural nouns and pronouns are used to indicate more than one entity. For example:
“The cats are playing.”
“They like reading.”
Forming plurals
The general rule for forming plural nouns in English is to add -s or -es to the end of a singular noun. However, there are exceptions.
Regular plurals:
Add -s: dog → Dogs.
Add -es to names that end in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z: bus → buses, box → boxes
Irregular plurals:
Some nouns change form completely: man → men, child → children
Some remain the same in both forms: “deer”, “sheep”
Singular and plural pronouns
Pronouns also change form between singular and plural.
Singular pronouns: “I”, “you”, “he”, “she”, “him”
Plural pronouns:
\”we\”, \”you\” (used for singular and plural), “they”
8Rules for plural nouns:
Here are eight rules for forming plural nouns in English, along with examples for each rule:
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| 1. Add -s to most nouns | Singular: Book Plural: Books |
| 2. Add -es to nouns ending in -s, -x, -z, -sh, or -ch | Singular: Church Plural: Churches |
| 3. Change -y to -ies for nouns ending in a consonant + y | Singular: City Plural: Cities |
| 4. Keep -y and add -s for nouns ending in a vowel + y | Singular: Toy Plural: Toys |
| 5. Change -f or -fe to -ves | Singular: Knife Plural: Knives |
| 6. Irregular forms (no specific rule) | Singular: Child Plural: Children |
| 7. Some nouns are the same in both forms | Singular: Deer Plural: Deer |
| 8. Compound nouns: pluralize the main noun | Singular: Passer by Plural: Passers by |
| Singular words | Plural words |
| Boy | Boys |
| Toy | Toys |
| Aeroplane | Aeroplanes |
| Cow | Cows |
| Dog | Dogs |
| Inch | Inches |
| Watch | Watches |
| Tax | Taxes |
| Match | Matches |
| Baby | Babies |
| Body | Bodies |
| City | Cities |
| Story | Stories |
| Enemy | Enemies |
| Fairy | Fairies |
| Lady | Ladies |
| Sky | Skies |
| Duty | Duties |
| Army | Armies |
| Holiday | Holidays |
| Monkey | Monkeys |
| Calf | Calves |
| Live | Lives |
| Thief | Thieves |
| Wolf | Wolves |
| Wife | Wives |
| Belief | Beliefs |
| Proof | Proofs |
| Grief | Griefs |
| Man | Men |
| Mouse | Mice |
| Foot | Feet |
| Tooth | Teeth |
| Fruit | Fruit |
| Hair | Hair |
| Fish | Fish |
| Sheep | Sheep |
| Goose | Geese |
| Ox | Oxen |
| Potato | Potatoes |
| Radio | Radioes |
| Piano | Pianos |
| Volcano | Volcanoes |
| News | News |
| Scissors | Scissors |