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English Grammar

2. Nouns

2.2 Singular and Plural

  • Introduction

  • 1. Pronouns
  • 1.1 Personal Pronouns

  • 1.2 Demonstrative Pronouns

  • 1.3 Indefinite Pronouns

  • 1.4 Reflexive Pronouns

  • 1.5 Relative Pronouns

  • 1.6 Genitive

  • 2. Nouns
  • 2.1 Articles

  • 2.2 Singular and Plural

  • 2.3 Countable and Uncountable Nouns

  • 3. Adjectives
  • 3.1 Adjective Formation

  • 3.2 Comparison of Adjectives

  • 4. Verbs
  • 4.1 Tenses

  • 4.2 Irregular Verbs

  • 4.3 Auxiliary Verbs

  • 4.4 Conditional

  • 4.5 Passive

  • 5. Syntax
  • 5.1 Word Order in Main Clause

  • 5.2 Subordinate Clause

  • 5.3 Interrogative Clause

  • 5.4 Formal Subject

  • 5.5 Shortened Clauses and Indirect Speech

  • 6. Prepositions
  • 6.1 Prepositions of Time

  • 6.2 Prepositions of Place

  • 7. Adverbs
  • 7.1 Adverb Formation

  • 8. Numbers
  • 8.1 Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

  • Introduction

  • 1. Pronouns

  • 1.1 Personal Pronouns

  • 1.2 Demonstrative Pronouns

  • 1.3 Indefinite Pronouns

  • 1.4 Reflexive Pronouns

  • 1.5 Relative Pronouns

  • 1.6 Genitive

  • 2. Nouns

  • 2.1 Articles

  • 2.2 Singular and Plural

  • 2.3 Countable and Uncountable Nouns

  • 3. Adjectives

  • 3.1 Adjective Formation

  • 3.2 Comparison of Adjectives

  • 4. Verbs

  • 4.1 Tenses

  • 4.2 Irregular Verbs

  • 4.3 Auxiliary Verbs

  • 4.4 Conditional

  • 4.5 Passive

  • 5. Syntax

  • 5.1 Word Order in Main Clause

  • 5.2 Subordinate Clause

  • 5.3 Interrogative Clause

  • 5.4 Formal Subject

  • 5.5 Shortened Clauses and Indirect Speech

  • 6. Prepositions

  • 6.1 Prepositions of Time

  • 6.2 Prepositions of Place

  • 7. Adverbs

  • 7.1 Adverb Formation

  • 8. Numbers

  • 8.1 Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

The most common way to mark the plural in English is the ending –s (brother – brothers). Many nouns that end with a letter –o have plural endings –es (e.g. tomatoes). Sometimes nouns that end with a letter –o can have either plural ending –s or –es (e.g. mosquitos/mosquitoes). If the noun ends with –s, –sh, –ch, –z or –x, the plural ending is –es (dish-dishes).

Remember, if a noun ends in a consonant + ‑y, the plural ending becomes ‑ies, e.g. strawberry – strawberries:

The basket is full of strawberries.

Some nouns ending in –f or –fe get a –ves ending in the plural, e.g. scarf – scarves, wolf – wolves, knife – knives:

I love the colour of these scarves!

Some nouns have irregular plurals:

  • tooth – teeth
  • mouse – mice 
  • man – men
  • foot – feet

The noun surroundings is plural and therefore, it requires the verb and the pronoun in plural form: 

Many kinds of information about your surroundings are transmitted through the sense of smell.

The noun wedding is singular and requires the verb in singular form. Other similar nouns are e.g. a funeral, a face, a ladder.

The wedding is in June.

Nouns such as physics look plural, but are actually singular. The verb is is therefore also singular:

Physics is such a fascinating discipline!

Learn English
Beginning 2.3 Countable and Uncountable Nouns
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