Singular Nouns and Plural Nouns is most important topic of English Grammar. Here Singular Noun and Plural Noun, definition, rules to change Singular Noun to Plural Nouns and Examples are given
Singular Noun–
Single means one. It refers to the count of only one of a noun or pronoun.When we speak about one person and one thing, we use the noun in singular form. Example: pen, table, aunt, father, book, chair, city , etc.
Plural Noun–
Plural means many. It refers to the count of more than one of a noun or pronoun. When we speak about more than one person and one thing, we use the noun in plural form. Example: pens, tables, aunts, fathers, books, chairs, cities , etc.
How to change Singular Noun into Plural Noun–
Numerous RULES are there to change the number from singular to plural. They are as follows-
1- Generally –s is added at the end of a singular noun to make it plural–
Singular | Plural |
Book | Books |
Boy | Boys |
Eye | Eyes |
Hand | Hands |
House | Houses |
Rupee | Rupees |
But when s, ss, ch, sh, x, z comes at the end of Noun, then -es is added to make it plural.
Singular | Plural |
Batch | Batches |
Address | Addresses |
Box | Boxes |
Brush | Brushes |
Tax | Taxes |
Class | Classes |
Match | Matches |
Quiz | Quizzes |
Prospectus | Prospectuses |
ch has two pronunciations – 1- च (CH) 2- क (K). When ch comes at the end of a Noun and that ch is pronounced ‘च’ (CH), then -es is added to that Noun to make it plural, but when If ch is pronounced ‘क (k)’, then -s is added to it –
Singular | Plural |
Monarch | Monarchs |
Stomach | Stomachs |
Matriarch | Matriarchs |
2- If Y comes at the end of a noun and a consonant comes before it, then to make it plural, Y is removed and -ies is written in its place.
Singular | Plural |
Army | Armies |
Lily | Lilies |
Spy | Spies |
Baby | Babies |
Duty | Duties |
City | Cities |
Variety | Varieties |
But if there is a vowel before y, then only -s is added at the end to make it plural.
Singular | Plural |
Valley | Valleys |
Boy | Boys |
Chimney | Chimneys |
Day | Days |
Monkey | Monkeys |
Ray | Rays |
Storey | Storeys |
3- If O comes at the end of a Noun, then -es is added to make it plural.
Singular | Plural |
Buffalo | Buffaloes |
Mosquito | Mosquitoes |
Potato | Potatoes |
Echo | Echoes |
Mango | Mangoes |
Hero | Heroes |
Potato | Potatoes |
But when io, eo, oo, come at the end of a Noun, then only -s is added at the end to make it plural. And there are some Nouns which end in ‘O’ and consonant comes before it, then add only -s to make them plural .
Singular | Plural |
Bamboo | Bamboos |
Studio | Studios |
Scenario | Scenarios |
Portfolio | Portfolios |
Zoo | Zoos |
Stereo | Stereos |
Folio | Folios |
4- If -f or -fe comes at the end of a Noun, then to make it plural, -f or -fe is removed and -ves is written in its place.
Singular | Plural |
Calf | Calves |
Elf | Eves |
Knife | Knives |
Leaf | Leaves |
Wolf | Wolves |
Thief | Thieves |
Sheaf | Sheaves |
Life | Lives |
Loaf | Loaves |
But there are some Nouns which have -f or -fe at the end but only -s is added to make them plural.
Singular | Plural |
Handkerchief | Handkerchiefs |
Proof | Proofs |
Belief | Beliefs |
Massif | Massifs |
Roof | Roofs |
Belief | Beliefs |
Grief | Griefs |
Turf | Turfs |
Fife | Fifes |
Some nouns have –ff at the end, add –s to make them plural.
Singular | Plural |
Staff | Staff |
Puff | Puff |
Ruff | Ruff |
Sniff | Sniff |
Whiff | Whiff |
Chaff | Chaff |
Sheriff | Sheriff |
There are some Nouns which end in -f or -fe and become double plural.
Singular | Plural |
Hoof | Hoofs, Hooves |
Scarf | Scarfs , Scarves |
Wharf | Wharfs, Wharves |
5- Some Nouns are made PLURAL by changing the vowels between them.
Singular | Plural |
Dormouse | Dormice |
Foot | Feet |
Goose | Geese |
Louse | Lice |
Man | Men |
Mouse | Mice |
Tooth | Teeth |
Woman | Women |
6– Some Nouns are made PLURAL by adding – en / ne .
Singular | Plural |
Brother | Brethren Or Brothers |
Child | Children |
Cow | Kine Or Cows |
Ox | Oxen |
7- Compound Nouns are made plural by adding –s/es to the main word.
Singular | Plural |
Coat-Of-Mail | Coats-Of-Mail |
Commander-In-Chief | Commanders-In-Chief |
Court-Martial | Courts-Martial |
Daughter-In-Law | Daughters-In-Law |
Governor-General | Governors-General / Governor-Generals |
Hanger-On | Hangers-On |
Knight-Errant | Knights-Errant |
Maid-Servant | Maid-Servants |
Pick-Pocket | Pick-Pockets |
Lord-Justice | Lords-Justice |
Step-Father | Step-Fathers |
8- There are some Compound Nouns which that have -um. Such compound nouns are made PLURAL by removing -um and adding -a in place of -um.
Singular | Plural |
Agendum | Agenda |
Datum | Data |
Memorandum | Memoranda |
Ovum | Ova |
Symposium | Symposia |
9- There are some Compound Nouns which that have -us. Such compound nouns are made PLURAL by removing -us and adding -i in place of -us.
Singular | Plural |
Alumnus | Alumni |
Bacillus | Bacilli |
Focus | Foci |
Syllabus | Syllabi |
Terminus | Termini |
Nucleus | Nuclei |
Logus | Logi |
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