The number is a grammatical category. Numbers express count distinctions of a noun or pronoun.
Example: a girl, ten girls, a boy, boys, etc
Types of Number
There are two types of numbers in Grammar-
- singular and
- plural.
Singular number
- When a noun expresses a person or thing, it is called singular.
Example: mother, bird, pen, mobile
Plural number
- When a noun expresses more than one object or person, it is called a plural.
Example: mothers, birds, pens, mobiles
How to change the number
There are some rules to form a plural number from a singular.
Have a look-
Rule 1
The plural form of a noun generally is made by adding -s to the singular.
Examples:
- Cat cats
- Pencil , pencils
- Day , days
- Desk , desks
Rule 2
The plural form of a noun ending in -y following a consonant is made by changing -y into -ies.
Examples:
- City , cities
- Country , countries
- Fly , flies
- Pony , ponies
Rule 3
The plural form of a noun ending in -ch, -sh, -ss or -x is made by adding -es.
Examples:
- Church , churches
- Match, matches
- Dish , dishes
- Brush, brushes
- Class , classes
- Glass , glasses
- Tax , taxes
- Box , boxes
Rule 4
The plural form of most nouns ending in -o also is made by adding -es.
Examples-
- Buffalo , buffaloes
- Hero, heroes
- Tomato , tomatoes
- Potato , potatoes
Rule 5
The plural form of foreign origin or abbreviation ending in -o is made by adding only -s.
Examples:
- Kilo , kilos
- Photo , photos
- Ratio , ratios
- Solo , solos
Rule 6
The plural form of nouns ending in -f or -fe is made by adding -ves.
Examples-
- Shelf , shelves
- Loaf , loaves
- Thief , thieves
- Wife , wives
Exceptions:
But there are some exceptional nouns which are made by adding only -s.
Examples-
- Handkerchief , handkerchiefs
- Dwarf , dwarfs
- Safe safes
- Strife, strifes
Rule 7:
The plural form of a few nouns is made by adding -en.
Examples:
- Child , children
- Ox , oxen.
Related Lessons-
- Vowels and consonants
- Persons
- Gender
- Use of 'am': profession
All Lessons of Listening Grammar
