Plural
Noun
In
this lesson you will learn the
definition of a plural noun, study examples of
plural nouns, and
take a test.
A plural noun:
is a word used to describe two or more things
is usually formed to indicate
number by adding "s" or "es"
can be formed by changing the last letter before adding
"s"
can also be formed in other ways
Plural nouns formed by adding an "s" to the
singular form of the
noun
boy-boys , girl-girls , cat-cats ,
table-tables , book-books ,
tree-trees , auto-autos ,
photo-photos , radio-radios ,
studio-studios
Plural nouns formed by adding an "es" to the
singular form of
nouns ending in "ch", "s", "sh", "x"
glass-glasses , dish-dishes ,
ditch-ditches , wish-wishes ,
coach-coaches , kiss-kisses ,
tax-taxes
Plural nouns formed by adding an "es" to the
singular form of
nouns ending in "o" and preceded by a
consonant
hero-heroes , tornado-tornados -tornadoes
(can end in either "s" or "es"), potato-potatoes ,
tomato-tomatoes
Note:
nouns of Italian or Spanish origin are exceptions to
this rule
ie: canto-cantos ,
grotto-grottos , piano-pianos ,
portico-porticos , quarto-quartos ,
solo-solos
Plural nouns formed by changing the "f" into a "v" and adding
"es"
half-halves , leaf-leaves ,
calf-calves
Note: some just add an "s"
ie: proof-proofs , muff-muffs
Note: some can do either
ie: dwarf-dwarfs -dwarves ,
hoof-hoofs -hooves ,
staff-staffs -staves
Plural nouns formed by dropping the "y" and adding "ies" of
nouns ending in "y" and preceded by a
consonant
cherry-cherries , lady-ladies ,
story-stories , party-parties
Plural nouns formed by simply changing the
vowel sound of the
singular form
foot-feet , goose-geese ,
louse-lice , man-men ,
mouse-mice , tooth-teeth ,
woman-women , mouse-mice
Plural nouns where the
singular and plural forms are different
child-children , ox-oxen ,
person-people
Plural nouns where the
singular and plural forms are the same
cod , series , trout ,
deer , fish , moose ,
offspring , series ,
sheep , species
Plural nouns that have no
singular form
annals , billiards ,
cattle , clothes , measles ,
nuptials , thanks ,
tidings , belongings ,
brains (intellect), clothes ,
congratulations , earnings ,
eyeglasses , goods ,
groceries , jeans , looks
(appearance), manners (social behavior),
pajamas , pants ,
scissors , shorts ,
sunglasses , surroundings ,
tropics , trousers
Plural nouns that consist of two parts and have no
singular form but are considered to be one unit
scissors , trousers ,
tweezers , pants
Plural nouns where the plural form is retained such as
nouns from foreign languages
analysis-analyses , appendix-appendices ,
bacterium-bacteria , basis-bases ,
crisis-crises , criterion-criteria ,
curriculum-curricula , datum-data ,
formula-formulae , hypothesis-hypotheses ,
medium-media , memorandum-memoranda ,
parenthesis-parentheses , phenomenon-phenomena ,
syllabus-syllabi , thesis-theses
Plural
Noun Test
It
is very important to make sure the words in a sentence have
singular and plural agreement. In the following test, choose the
correct sentences.
1. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. She is taking less classes this semester.
b. She is taking fewer classes this semester.
The correct answer is ........
b. She is taking fewer classes this semester.
2. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. That student is always late for class. He
annoys the teacher.
b. That student is always late for class. They
annoy the teacher.
The correct answer is ........
a. That student is always late for class. He annoys the teacher.
3. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. That food has a lot of sugars.
b. That food has a lot of sugar.
The correct answer is ........
b. That food has a lot of sugar.
4. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. Every students was on time for class this
morning.
b. Every student was on time for class this
morning.
The correct answer is ........
b. Every student was on time for class this morning.
5. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. This news is very exciting.
b. These news is very exciting.
The correct answer is ........
a. This news is very exciting.
6. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. There are fewer calories in light beer than
regular beer.
b. There are less calories in light beer than
regular beer.
The correct answer is ........
a. There are fewer calories in light beer than regular beer.
7. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. John always gives his wife a lot of jewelry.
b. John always gives his wife a lot of jewelries.
The correct answer is ........
a. John always gives his wife a lot of jewelry.
8. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. We bought a lot of used furniture at a garage
sale.
b. We bought a lot of used furnitures at a garage sale.
The correct answer is ........
a. We bought a lot of used furniture at a garage sale.
9. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. The new equipments for the basketball team has
arrived.
b. The new equipment for the basketball team has
arrived.
The correct answer is ........
b. The new equipment for the basketball team has arrived.
10. Choose the
correct sentence.
a. Mayumi bought a little apples for her lunches
this week.
b. Mayumi bought a few apples for her lunch this
week.
The correct answer is ........
b. Mayumi bought a few apples for her lunch this week.
More Tests
Additional Information
Commonly Used Nouns
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of nouns . The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed .
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program.
Grammar Tips
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes . The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed .
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program.
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words .
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed .
Click here to visit the lesson page.
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words . The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed .
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program.
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words .
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed .
Click here to visit the lesson page.
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words . The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed .
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program.