Singular and Plural Number

English nouns are either singular or plural.

Singular Nouns:

A noun that shows only one person, thing, animal, or place is called a singular noun. 

Plural Nouns:

A noun that shows two or more persons, things, animals, or places is called a plural noun. 

1. Singular Noun + s = Plural:

Phonetic Tips: 

When a plural is formed by adding "-s" to words ending in "-ce", "-ge", "-se" or "-ze", the final "-es" is pronounced as a separate syllable. For example, in each of the following examples, the singular noun consists of one syllable, whereas the plural noun consists of two syllables.

2. after "-s", "-sh", "-ch", "-x" & "-z", we add "-es"

If the ending "-ch", "-s", "-sh", "-x" or "-z" of the noun is pronounced as /tʃ/, plural is formed by adding es. The ending es is pronounced as a separate syllable. 

3. If "-ch" is pronounced as “k”, just “s” is added at the end. 

4. "-f" / "-fe" = -ves 

The final “-f” or “-fe” is replaces with “-ves” in the plural. 

5. -f / -fe = -fs 

6. There are also a few nouns ending in “-f” which can form the plural in two different ways.

7. Consonant + O = -oes

If the noun ends in -o, “es” is added in the plural. 

 8. Vowel + O = -os

The following nouns are made plural by adding only “s”. 

9. Consonant + Y = -ies

If a consonant follows the ending letter “y”, “y” is omitted and “-ies” is added in the plural.  

 10. Vowel + Y = -ys

If a vowel follows the ending letter “y”, simply “-s” is added in the plural. “y” is not omitted. 

11. By changing vowels.       

12. Some nouns have same words for plural and singular. 

13. Foreign words

Some Greek and Latin words used for scientific purposes are made plural in the same way that they do in the original language.

14. Hyphenated nouns

If two or more words are joined by hyphens, “-s” is added to the main word. 

15. Nouns ending in man usually form the plural by changing man to men. 

16. Numbers and letters

Numbers, letters, and other symbols can be formed plurals by adding apostrophe s ['s]. 

17. Irregular plurals

The English language has not always used “-s” to form plurals. There are still a few words surviving from Old English, which do not use “-s” to form the plural. For example:

18. A few nouns do not change in the plural. For example:

19. Plurals of proper nouns

To make a proper noun plural, we simply as s/es at the end of it. 

Note that, Proper nouns ending in y always form the plural simply by adding s, even when the y is preceded by a consonant.

Always Remember: 

(i) Only countable nouns have plural forms.

(ii) Uncountable nouns have no plural form. So never make an uncountable noun plural.

Exercise 1

1. Choose the correct number in brackets.

1. More than one-------------- (singer/singers) sang beautiful songs.  
2. I always use-------------- (spectacle/spectacles).  
3. Spare-------------- (part/parts) are sold in the market.   
4. I bought three-------------- (dozen/dozens) oranges. 
5. He addressed all-------------- (lady/ladies) present there.  
6. I bought five-------------- (kilo/kilos) meat.  
7. There are many-------------- (wolf/wolves) in the zoo.  
8. The old man has not a single-------------- (tooth/teeth). 
9. He divided the mangoes into two-------------- (half/halves).
10. The police arrested all the -------------- (thief/thieves).
11. (That/those) --------------trees are very tall.
12. I like to wear ready-made -------------- (trouser/trousers).
13. The (brother/brothers) -------------- of the club are very co-operative.
14. The (salesman/salesmen) -------------- in this shop are very skilled.
15. His (stepbrother/ stepbrothers) -------------- like him very much.
16. (Bamboo/Bamboos) -------------- are used for various purposes.
17. (Baby/Babies) -------------- usually like to play with toys.
18. Seven (day/days) -------------- make a week.
19. (Hero/Heroes) -------------- are respected by all.

2. Write the correct number of the nouns in the brackets.

1. The--------------(key) are new.
2. (Vegetable)--------------are not cheap.
3. Seven--------------(ox) are grazing in the field.
4. The girl lost all her------------(tooth).
5. The green------------(leaf) look fresh.
6. Local------------(buses) does not run fast.
7. (Fly) -------------- sit on uncovered food.
8. The -------------- (baby) are crying.
9. The -------------- (day) have become shorter.
10. The -------- (women) in the room is my sister.
11. The-------- (lady) in the club are gossiping.
12. (Child)--------------are playing.
13. (Hero)---------------are always welcomed.
14. The----------(woman) of our country are poor.
15. The-------------- (boatmen) is taking rest.
16. (Mango) -------------- are cheap.
17. There are many-----------(fox) in this jungle.
18. (Potato)-----------grow plenty in Bangladesh.
19. All the -------------- (chief) meet together.
20. He used to tell me many-----------------(story).
21. There are many ------------------(fly) on your food.
22. The old man has two------------------(wife).
23. Meghna is the deepest------(rivers) in Bangladesh.
24. (Child) -------------- like sweets.
25. (Baby) -------------- love toys.
26. He bought two dozen of-------------- (pen).
27. She will draw some -------------- (picture).
28. He has six-------------(ox).
29. There are three----------- (knife) on the table.
30. He lost all his -------------- (tooth).
31. The green-------------- (leaf) look beautiful. 
32. A large number of--------(people) have gathered. 
33. Every-------------- (babies) has a toy. 
34. The furniture is made of-------------- (woods). 
35. There are some---------(boatman) in the river. 
36. Both of his-------------(foot) are injured.
37. All the----------(child) are playing. 
38. I saw two-------------- (cuckoo) on the tree. 
39. These are my--------------(pen). 
40. I bought four pair of------------(shoe). 
41. He is one of my------------- (cousin).
42. Many--------------(man), many minds.

3. Write the correct number of the nouns in the brackets.

1. The--------------(knife) are sharp.
2. The------------(Chinese) are short.
3. He has two--------------(brother-in-law).
4. Their------------(father-in-law) are good men.
5. He has one-----------(maidservants).
6. The------(passer-by) were looking at the sky.
7. The------------------(wage) of sin are death.
8. His shop is full of------------------(piano).
9. The Padma is one of the biggest-------(river) in Bangladesh.
10. Ten-------------(mile) is a long way.
11. He has five -----------(manservant) in his house. 
12. A few-------(passer-by) are crossing the road. 
13. He took two ---------- (spoonful) of sugar. 
14. I bought five----------(kilo) of rice. 
15. He sold three--------------(bookshelf) today. 
16. He gave many important-------(information). 
17. His----------(trouser) were torn. 
18. Many -----(people) were present in the meeting. 
19. He bought ten--------------(pair) of shoes. 
20. There are seven---------(M.A.) in our village. 
21. The weight of the man is four---------(stone). 
22. He took two--------------(loaf) of bread. 
23. (Hundred)-----------of people supported him. 
24. Give me two-------------- (hundred) taka.
25. Some ---------(person) went to visit Cox's Bazar. 
26. He sold four--------------(dozen) of oranges. 
27. He gifted me two ------------(pair) of spectacles. 
28. Everybody likes a good ------------ (children). 
29. Good------------(child) are favourite to all. 
30. The classroom is full of --------------(bench). 
31. Those are his -------------- (shelf). 
32. One of the -------------- (boy) was singing. 
33. He was pulled by his-------------- (arm). 
34. A few --------(woman) attended the program. 
35. There are many --------(apparatus) in our school. 
36. Every -------------- (student) was given a pen. 
37. The-------------- (German) are active. 

4. Write the correct number of the nouns in the brackets.

1. He bought ten--------------(sheep).
2. The hunter killed two--------------(deer).
3. Ill--------------(news) runs fast.
4. (Politic)-------------- is against my nature.
5. A--------------(lice) fell from her head.
6. The cat killed two------------(mouse).
7. He is good at-------------- (politic).
8. A -------------- (lice) fell from her head. 
9. He has sold all his-------------(furniture). 
10. The cat caught three-----------(mouse). 
11. I go to school on---------- (feet). 
12. These----------(sheep) are white. 
13. The----------(cattle) are grazing in the field.
14. There are many---------- (louse) on his head. 
15. He read a -------------- (poetry). 
16. He killed some------------(mouse). 
17. The-------------- (brave) deserve the fair. 
18. Trees give us--------------(shade). 
19. Some--------------(sheep) are grazing.
20. There were two ------------(cannon) at Gulistan. 
21. Fifty (mile)--------------is a long way. 
22. He has kept his--------------(word). 
23. More than one -------------- (boy) was present. 
24. This shirt cost seven-------------- (hundred) taka. 
25. He gave me many good --------------(advice). 

5.  Change the following sentences into singular.

1. Roses are flowers.
2. Dogs are animals.
3. Houses are shelters.
4. Nouns are the names of things.
5. Dogs have tails.
6. Soldiers carry guns.
7. Cows are useful to farmers.
8. The workers are clearing the floors.
9. These oranges are very sweet.
10. Those mangoes are not ripe.

6. Change the following sentences into plural.

1. There is a deer on the hill side.
2. This sheep is white.
3. That bookcase is made of wood.
4. He has caught a fish.
5. I am going to pay the workman.
6. My school is big.
7. He is a schoolboy.
8. This woman has an umbrella.
9. This is a boy.
10. That is a big house.