Unit 2: Singular and Plural Nouns

1)    Nouns can be either singular or plural. A singular noun refers to one person or thing. A plural noun refers to more than one person or thing.

2)    A plural form is formed by adding ‘-s’ at the end of the word. Sometimes, a plural noun can be formed by adding ‘-es’ at the end of the word.

Examples :

(a)  Plural nouns formed by adding ‘-s’ at the end of the word.

Singular	Plural
boy	boys
chief	chiefs
door	doors
dwarf	dwarfs
piano	pianos
river	rivers
roof	roofs
ship	ships

(b)  Plural nouns formed by adding ‘-es’ at the end of the word.

Singular	Plural
glass	glasses
watch	watches
box	boxes
echo	echoes

3)    For some nouns that end with ‘-f’ or ‘-fe’, their plurals are formed by changing ‘-f’ into ‘-v’ and then adding ‘-es’ or ‘-s’ (if there is already an ‘-e’ in the main word).

Examples:

Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
leaf	leaves	knife	knives	thief	thieves

4) For some nouns that end with ‘-y’ after a consonant, their plurals are formed by changing ‘-y’ into ‘-i’ and adding ‘-es’. (Plural nouns that end with ‘-y’ after a vowel are formed by adding ‘-s’ at the end of the word.)

Examples:

Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
army	armies	city	cities	tray	trays

   Exercise

   Choose the correct answer.

1)    The _______________went back to the shed after grazing in the field.

a) cow

b) cows

c) cowes

d) cowed

2)    Look at the ________________! They are pretty swaying in the wind.

a) daisy

b) daisi

c) daisys

d) daisies

3)    There is a _____________living at the edge of the farm.

a) fox

b) foxes

c) foxies

d) foxed

4)    She bought a few pairs of _____________at the new shopping centre.

a) shoe

b) shoes

c) shoed

d) shoees

5)    He tied the ____________into a bundle and carried it home.

a) bamboo

b) bamboos

c) bambooes

d) bambooses

6)    I have many faulty _____________at home.

a) radio

b) radios

c) radioes

d) radioed

7)    The ______________ she tells are very funny. I enjoy listening to them.

a) storys

b) stores

c) stories

d)storeys

8)    The shop is selling second-hand ___________at a bargain price.

a) piano

b) pianos

c) pianos

d) pianoses

9)    _________________have eight legs.

a) Spederies

b) Spideress

c) Spideres

d) Spiders

10) These _____________have not been washed. Could you wash them.

a) glass

b) glasses

c) glassed

d) glassess