4.1.2: Text- Regular Plural Nouns
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- 255987
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A plural noun indicates that there is more than one of that noun (while a singular noun indicates that there is just one of the noun). English has both regular and irregular plural nouns.
Let’s start with regular plurals: regular plural nouns use established patterns to indicate there is more than one of a thing.
Recognize nouns marked with plural form –s.
1) We add the plural suffix –s to most words.
- apple → apples
- key → keys
2) When a noun ends with a consonant + y, we change the y to ies.
- baby --> babies
- city --> cities
3) However, when the word ends with a vowel + y, we only add -s.
- boy -->boys
- key --> keys
Exercise 1.4: Words Ending in "y"
What are the correct plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| supply | play | ||
| monkey | lady | ||
| story | day |
4) We add the plural suffix –es to most words that end in o.
- tomato → tomatoes
- hero → heroes
5) We add the plural suffix –s to words of foreign origin (Latin, Greek, Spanish, etc.)
- piano → pianos
- photo → photos
- video → videos
Exercise 1.5: Words Ending in "O"
What are the correct plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| solo | tornado | ||
| veto | photo | ||
| echo | radio | ||
| avocado | zero | ||
| studio | potato |
Exercise 1.6: Plural or No Plural
Add -s, or -es or change y to -ies to make nouns plural. If a plural form is not needed, write X. Remember: Only count nouns have plural forms.
Sylvia's daughter, Marisa was about to turn ten, and Silvia wanted to have a special dinner for her. She made a list and headed out to buy everything she needed for Marisa's favorite meal. First, she went to a bakery. She ordered a beautiful cake decorated with strawberry_____ and pretty yellow daisy ____ (her favorite flower) and cookie _____ filled with creamy chocolate ____. Next, she went to the neighborhood grocery store. For dinner, she got chicken_____ , cheese_____ and fresh cream_____ to make Marisa's favorite dish, chicken with au gratin potato_____. She also bought ingredient__ _ for a large salad--several tomato____, avocado____, carrot____ and, of course, lettuce____. When Sylvia got home, she immediately she prepared the vegetable_____ for the salad and began to set up the birthday room and make the special meal. She prepared the chicken au gratin and put it in the hot oven to bake. In the dining room, she set the chair_ ___ around the table, laid down her best tablecloth, and set the table with her best dish_____ silverware____, and glass____. Finally, she decorated the birthday room with colorful ribbon____ and balloon_____ in Marisa's favorite color, red. When Marisa came home that evening, she was so excited to see the beautiful birthday room and smell her favorite meal cooking in the kitchen. Soon, her dad came home with her sister and brothers, carrying several beautiful package_____ covered in pretty, red paper______ and shiny silver ribbon_____. The whole family sat down at the table and enjoyed a delicious meal. After dinner, Marisa blew out ten candle____ on the cake and made a wish while the family sang "Happy Birthday!" It was time for Marisa to open her present_____. She carefully opened each one and cried out with delight when she found all of the toy_____ and cloth_____ she had hoped for. It was a wonderful evening that everyone enjoyed!
6) After sounds s, z, sh, ch, and j, we add the plural suffix –es.
- box → boxes
- wish → wishes
- kiss → kisses
Exercise 1.7 Words Ending in s, z, sh, ch, and j
Do you know how to spell the plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| peach | bus | ||
| chair | picture | ||
| quiz | watch |
7) When a word ends in –f or –fe, we change the f to v and add –es.
- leaf → leaves
- life → lives
- scarf → scarves
- calf → calves
- loaf → loaves
But not in these words
- cliff → cliffs
- roof → roofs
- belief → beliefs
- chief → chiefs
Exercise 1.8" Words Ending in "f"
What are the correct plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| wolf | self | ||
| chief | half | ||
| sheaf | roof | ||
| knife | thief |
Revision and Adaptation. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Regular Plural Nouns. by Julie Sevastopoulos. from Grammar-Quizzes.com. Located at: http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/agree1a.html. License: CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Image of two men by: Gregor Cresnar. Provided by: The Noun Project. Located at: https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=people&i=176708. License: CC BY: Attribution