English singular and plural nouns
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Hide- 1.What are singular nouns?
- 1.1.Singular nouns definition
- 1.1.1.Singular nouns examples
- 1.2.What are plural nouns?
- 1.3.How to form plural nouns
- 1.4.Singular nouns ending with "f" or "fe"
- 1.5.Singular nouns ending with “s”, “ss”, “sh”, "z", "o" “ch”, “x”
- 1.6.Singular nouns ending with "y"
- 1.7.Singular nouns ending with "sis"
- 1.8.Irregular plural nouns
- 1.9.Irregular plural nouns list
- 1.10.Constant noun
- 1.11.Nouns that are only plural
- 2.Exercises
- 2.1.Singular and plural nouns theory test in English
- 2.2.Singular and plural nouns test in English
- 2.3.Singular and plural nouns worksheet in English
- 2.4.Singular and plural nouns exercise in English
What are singular nouns?
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Johanna B. 
Elena I. 
Jaqueline C. 
Marko B. 
Glausie da F.
Nadyia Z. 
Mary C. 
Raquel O.
Yakup Cumhur C. 
Angel Q. 
Johanna B.
Elena I.
Jaqueline C.
Marko B.
Glausie da F.
Nadyia Z.
Mary C.
Raquel O.
Singular nouns definition
Singular nouns are used to refer or identify only one person, animal, quality, thing, place, or an idea. They provide the stem based on which a plural noun can be formed. Often the determiners "a", "an" or "the" are placed before them in a sentence.
Singular nouns examples
- Rope
- Climber
- Sherpa
What are plural nouns?
Plural nouns are used to refer or identify more than one person, animal, quality, thing, place, or an idea. Through the use of the singular pronoun stem and several variations of suffixes, the plural nouns are formed.
How to form plural nouns
The most common method to turn a singular noun into a plural noun is by adding an "-s" to them.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Rope | Ropes |
| Climber | Climbers |
| Bag | Bags |
Warning: However, there are exceptions to the rule that we will show you below.
Singular nouns ending with "f" or "fe"
If the singular noun end with either "f" or "fe" they are exchanged by "ve" prior adding the plural "-s".
| Singular | Plural | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Wife | Wives | Chefs |
| Knife | Knives | Beliefs |
| Wolf | Wolves | Roofs |
Singular nouns ending with “s”, “ss”, “sh”, "z", "o" “ch”, “x”
If the singular noun contains one of these endings there is an "-es" added after them to form their plural form.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Bus | Buses |
| Glass | Glasses |
| Dish | Dishes |
| Blitz | Blitzes |
| Tomato | Tomatoes |
| Crutch | Cruches |
| Box | Boxes |
Singular nouns ending with "y"
If the singular noun ends with a "y" and the letter before it is a consonant it is replaced by "ies" to form the plural form. If the letter before it is a vowel you only need to add an "-s".
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Baby | Babies |
| Party | Parties |
| City | Cities |
| Kitty | Kitties |
| Boy | Boys |
| Toy | Toys |
Singular nouns ending with "sis"
If the singular noun ends with a "sis" it is replaced by "ses" to form the plural form.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Crisis | Crises |
| Analysis | Analyses |
| Diagnosis | Diagnoses |
Irregular plural nouns
Irregular nouns don't follow the same formula previously explained. You need to memorize them to avoid making mistakes. In the tables below are the most commonly used ones.
Irregular plural nouns list
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Person | People |
| Man | Men |
| Woman | Women |
| Child | Children |
| Foot | Feet |
| Tooth | Teeth |
| Mouse | Mice |
| Datum | Data |
| Goose | Geese |
Constant noun
In this case, the same word is used to describe both a singular and a plural noun. It needs to be understood from the context.
| Singular and plural |
|---|
| Sheep |
| Fish |
| Deer |
| Salmon |
| Species |
Nouns that are only plural
In English, there are a few word exceptions that are only in plural form and have no singular form.
| Nouns |
|---|
| Jeans |
| Trousers |
| Shorts |
| Clothes |
| Glasses |
| Savings |
| Stairs |
| Scissors |
Exercises
- Singular and plural nouns theory test in English
- Singular and plural nouns test in English
- Singular and plural nouns worksheet in English
- Singular and plural nouns exercise in English
Singular and plural nouns theory test in English
Solution
1. All plural nouns are formed by adding an -s to them.
False
2. The plural form of wife is wifes.
False
3. Often before a singular noun, there is a determiner such as "a", "an" or "the".
True
4. The plural form of person is people.
True
5. Data is a singular noun.
False
6. Sheep is a constant noun.
True
7. Glasses only have a plural form.
True
8. Irregular plural nouns are formed by adding and -es to the word.
False
9. Regular plural nouns are formed by taking the stem of their singular form and adding the fitting suffixes.
True
10. Some nouns have only a plural form.
True
Singular and plural nouns test in English
Solution
Pay attention to the ending of the noun in its singular form. Based on it a specific suffix is added to form the plural noun with the exception of irregular and constant nouns.
Example: rope - ropes, wife - wives, analysis - analyses, sheep - sheep, switch - switches
For detailed explanation and examples refer back to the English singular and plural nouns page.
Questions:
1. Sheet
Sheets
2. Person
People
3. PartyParties
4. BoxBoxes
5. SwitchSwitches
6. SheepSheep
7. Datum
Data
8. Fame
Fame
9. Mouse
Mice
10. Foot
Feet
Singular and plural nouns worksheet in English
Pay attention to the ending of the noun in its singular form. Based on it a specific suffix is added to form the plural noun with the exception of irregular and constant nouns. For detailed explanation and examples refer back to the English singular and plural nouns .
Example: rope - ropes, wife - wives, analysis - analyses, sheep - sheep, switch - switches
You also need to decide whether the noun needs to be in singular or plural form based on the context of the sentence.
Questions:
1. I lost my set of last night. (key)
2. I am hosting a next week. (party)
3. Do you need help with your ? (grocery)
4. I can't believe you are having a soon! (baby)
5. I love baked . (tomato)
6. Can you pass me a , please? (knife)
7. Did you bring you set of ? We need them for that wall. (rope)
8. I built a new for you last night. (website)
9. She is not like most , she's different. (person)
10. I would love to take you with me on this . (trip)
Singular and plural nouns exercise in English
Exercises
- Singular and plural nouns theory test in English
- Singular and plural nouns test in English
- Singular and plural nouns worksheet in English
- Singular and plural nouns exercise in English
Singular and plural nouns theory test in English
Solution
1. All plural nouns are formed by adding an -s to them.
False
2. The plural form of wife is wifes.
False
3. Often before a singular noun, there is a determiner such as "a", "an" or "the".
True
4. The plural form of person is people.
True
5. Data is a singular noun.
False
6. Sheep is a constant noun.
True
7. Glasses only have a plural form.
True
8. Irregular plural nouns are formed by adding and -es to the word.
False
9. Regular plural nouns are formed by taking the stem of their singular form and adding the fitting suffixes.
True
10. Some nouns have only a plural form.
True
Singular and plural nouns test in English
Solution
Pay attention to the ending of the noun in its singular form. Based on it a specific suffix is added to form the plural noun with the exception of irregular and constant nouns.
Example: rope - ropes, wife - wives, analysis - analyses, sheep - sheep, switch - switches
For detailed explanation and examples refer back to the English singular and plural nouns page.
Questions:
1. Sheet
Sheets
2. Person
People
3. PartyParties
4. BoxBoxes
5. SwitchSwitches
6. SheepSheep
7. Datum
Data
8. Fame
Fame
9. Mouse
Mice
10. Foot
Feet
Singular and plural nouns worksheet in English
Pay attention to the ending of the noun in its singular form. Based on it a specific suffix is added to form the plural noun with the exception of irregular and constant nouns. For detailed explanation and examples refer back to the English singular and plural nouns .
Example: rope - ropes, wife - wives, analysis - analyses, sheep - sheep, switch - switches
You also need to decide whether the noun needs to be in singular or plural form based on the context of the sentence.
Questions:
1. I lost my set of last night. (key)
2. I am hosting a next week. (party)
3. Do you need help with your ? (grocery)
4. I can't believe you are having a soon! (baby)
5. I love baked . (tomato)
6. Can you pass me a , please? (knife)
7. Did you bring you set of ? We need them for that wall. (rope)
8. I built a new for you last night. (website)
9. She is not like most , she's different. (person)
10. I would love to take you with me on this . (trip)