Singular and Plural
Singular :
If the noun refers to one thing, then it should be considered singular. We all know about the singular form of the noun.
Example: cow, dog, cat, bus, etc.,
( IN THE FIRST IMAGE WE CALL IT AS A "COW" BECAUSE IT IS ONLY ONE, BUT WHEN WE SEE THE SECOND IMAGE WE CALL IT AS COWS. WE ARE ADDING "S" TO THE FIRST WORD, TO CHANGE SINGULAR INTO PLURAL.)
Plural :
If the noun refers to more than one thing then it is called a plural. It's not easy to change a singular word into a plural word. By adding "s" is not only the rule to change a single word into a plural word. We have more rules to change.
How the plural forms of a noun is formed?
There are some rules to identify the plural forms.
Rule 1:
By adding 'S'
Example: Birds, Dogs
Rule 2;
If the noun ends in 'S', 'X', 'Z', 'Ch', 'Sh', we have to add 'es' to form plurals.
Example:
Buses, Boxes, Benches, bushes.
Rule 3:
If the noun ends in 'y', we change the 'y' into 'i' and add 'es'.
Example:
Families, armies.
But this rule applies only if the word ends in 'y' with the 'Consonant' sound before it.
Rule 4:
If the noun ends in 'y' with 'vowel' sound then before it, we add only 's'.
Example: Boys, Toys, Days.
Rule 5:
If the noun ends in 'o' we add 'es' and sometimes' s'.
Example:
Mango - mangoes
Tomato - Tomatoes
Radio - Radios
Photo - Photos
Rule 6 :
If the noun ends in ' f ' or ' fe '. we change it into 'ves'.
Example:
Thief- Thieves
Wife - Wives
Wolf - Wolves
But there are some noun which is plural when we add only 's'
Example;
Roof - Roofs
Chief - Chiefs
Rules 7 :
Some nouns have irregular plural.
Example:
Foot - Feet
Mouse - Mice
Tooth - Teeth
Child - Children
Woman - Women
Man - Men
Rule 8 :
Compound noun forming plurals.
Examples:
Daughter-in-law - Daughters-in-law
Son-in-law - Sons-in-law
Some compound nouns take a double plural.
Example :
Woman-teacher - Women-teachers
Rule 9 :
So noun has a plural form but has a singular verb.
Examples:
News, Politics, Mathematics, Innings.
Rule 10:
Some noun is used only in singular form and take a singular verb.
Examples:
Furniture, luggage, machinery, information, advice, bread, poetry, scenery.
Rule 11:
Some noun has a plural form but takes a singular verb.
Examples: Innings, News, Mathematics, Physics.
we won an innings.
Maths is my favourite subject.
The news is very bad.
Rule 12:
Some nouns can be used only in the plural form and take a plural verb.
Examples :
Riches, Thanks.
Riches are necessary for a comfortable life.
My thanks are to God.
Rule 13:
Some articles have two similar parts. They always take a plural verb.
Examples :
Scissors, tongs, spectacles, trousers, breeches.
These scissors are blunt.
Where are my spectacles?
Rule 14 :
Some collective noun is always used as plurals and take a verb.
Examples:
Folk, popularity, cattle, people, vermin.
Their folk are dancing.
Some people are wise.
Vermin are harmful insects.
