Plural and singular forms
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Copyright © Monash University (2017). All rights reserved. Except as provided in the Copyright Act 1968, this work may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of English Connect web administrator. Material created by Dr Anna Podorova, Ms Julia Ghazarian and Dr Amber McLeod.
Why is it important to understand singular and plural word forms?
Singular and plural word forms are important because they distinguish one thing from many. The use of correct singular and plural word forms means that the grammatical structure of sentences will be correct. The use of singular and plural forms is linked to:
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Variation in formation of regular plural noun forms
Adding an ‘s’ to singular nouns is one of the most frequent ways to change singular into plural:
| Spelling rules | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Simply add an ‘s’ to a singular form | student boy | students boys |
| If ‘y’ is preceded by a consonant, change ‘y’ to ‘ie’ before adding ‘s’ | country university | countries universities |
| If a singular form ends in ch, sh, s, x, or z, add ‘es’ | branch | branches |
In English, there are many nouns which do not follow the regular pattern of forming singular or plural. Some words such as university subjects or activities may look plural but are used as a singular nouns. For example:
The news about university rankings was in all Australian newspapers. Maths (=mathematics) is a challenging subject.
Exceptions in formation of plural noun forms: plural-looking nouns
Some words look plural but they can be either plural or singular depending on the context:
| Rules | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| The word is the same but is used as singular or plural depending on a context. | Demographics is a study of information about various populations. Statistics is the science of collecting, analyzing and interpreting numbers and numerical data. | Such diverse student demographics are representative of universities across Australia. The statistics indicate a gradual increase in international student enrolments. |
Exceptions in formation of plural noun forms: Latin and other foreign origins
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Examples: Based on this specific criterion, researchers differentiate between native and non-native speakers of English. Success criteria for such programs vary across the sector.
Exceptions in formation of singular and plural noun forms: always plural
‘Plural only’ nouns are always used in a plural form. However, sometimes you need to talk about one, or more than one, of these nouns.
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Exceptions in formation of singular and plural noun forms: uncountable nouns
| It is important to know which nouns are countable and uncountable in English. The rules may be different from other languages so it is important to check this information in a dictionary when you are using a word you are not very familiar with. Uncountable nouns cannot be counted and are always considered singular but sometimes you need to talk about one or more than one of these nouns. We use ‘a something of’ phrase (for example, a piece of, a bottle of, a box of, an item of, an article of, etc.) as well as little/much and all/no/some/any. |
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| Examples of uncountable nouns | 1 or little | More than 1 or much |
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| Advice, electricity, equipment, furniture, information, knowledge, luggage, money, music, news, research. | A piece of advice is always welcome. Knowledge of grammar rules needs to be applied in real-life settings. | All this advice about university study was extremely valuable. Much knowledge about student expectations was acquired during the research process. |
Avoiding common mistakes with plural and singular forms: subject-verb agreement
A singular or plural subject must match with a singular or plural verb. It is known as subject-verb agreement:
| Rule | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. Pay attention to phrases between subjects and verbs as they may cause confusion. | The folder with resources is on your Moodle site. Sam, as well as all the other students, was going to the seminar. | The folders with resources are on your Moodle site. All the students, including Sam, were going to the seminar. |
| When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction "and", a plural verb is used. | My mother and sister live in Tasmania. | |
| When "or" or "nor" are used in a sentence, the verb should agree with the noun (or pronoun) closest to the verb. | My friend or my lecturer is going to help me. Neither the students, nor the lecturer knows what to do. | My lecturer or my friends are going to help me. Neither the lecturer, nor the students know what to do. |
Avoiding mistakes with plural and singular forms: subject-verb agreement (continued)
| Rule | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| The words everything, everybody, everyone mean more than one thing or person but are treated as singular nouns. | Everyone was happy to be at a university. Everything is ready. | |
| The words each and every are used with singular nouns and singular verbs. | Every primary, secondary and tertiary student needs to study consistently. Each boy and girl is going to the orientation. | |
| Collective nouns (for example, audience, committee, crew, government, team, police, etc.) can be used with plural or singular verbs depending on their function | = a group as a whole The police come quickly if you press this button. | = a collection of individuals The police were extremely helpful and responded to all our questions very politely. |
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Copyright © Monash University (2017).
For hundreds of years people have attempted to invent a perfect language. Recently, there
have been a discussion on the nature and significances of such attempts. Inventors of such languages pursue different purposes: some want to produce an inherently logical language systems, others seek to develop neutral languages, free of ideology and culture, to be used in world communication (Lo Bianco, 2004). Out of hundreds of invented languages just a few are well-known. The most prominent of them all is, perhaps, Esperanto.
Reference: Lo Bianco, J. (2004). Resources for cultural language learning. Melbourne: CAE Press, Language Australia.
For hundreds of years people have attempted to invent a perfect language. Recently, there
have been a discussion on the nature and significances of such attempts. Inventors of such languages pursue different purposes: some want to produce an inherently logical language systems, others seek to develop neutral languages, free of ideology and culture, to be used in world communication (Lo Bianco, 2004). Out of hundreds of invented languages just a few are well-known. The most prominent of them all is, perhaps, Esperanto.
Reference: Lo Bianco, J. (2004). Resources for cultural language learning. Melbourne: CAE Press, Language Australia.
For hundreds of years people have attempted to invent a perfect language. Recently, there has been a discussion on the nature and significance of such attempts. Inventors of such languages pursue different purposes: some want to produce an inherently logical language system, others seek to develop neutral languages, free of ideology and culture, to be used in world communication (Lo Bianco, 2004). Out of hundreds of invented languages just a few are well-known. The most prominent of them all is, perhaps, Esperanto.
Reference: Lo Bianco, J. (2004). Resources for cultural language learning. Melbourne: CAE Press, Language Australia.
Copyright © Monash University (2017).
Apply what you have learnt in this module and click on the correct option(s) below
| Most of the school equipment are old but they still work well. The chief examiner and markers try to provide feedback on first assignments as soon as possible. The whole lecture including the literacy and numeracy sections were interesting. Try again |
| Equipment is uncountable and always singular. Suggested revision: Most of the school equipment is old but it still works well. Correct The subject of this sentence is a singular noun lecture so the verb must be singular as well. Appropriate punctuation would make this clear. Suggested revision: The whole lecture, including the literacy and numeracy sections, was interesting. |
Copyright © Monash University (2017).
Quick Tip 1
Ask yourself, “one or many?” when using nouns, pronouns and verbs in sentences.
Quick Tip 2
Understand subject and verb agreement, including how this works in sentences where the subject and the verb are separated.
Quick Tip 3
Learn the singular, plural, countable and uncountable noun forms for your discipline.
Copyright © Monash University (2017).
Useful links on plural and singular forms
Module 5: Subject/Verb agreement, ASCENT, Monash University Count and uncount nouns, Purdue Online Writing Lab Making subjects and verbs agree, Purdue Online Writing Lab Nouns, singular and plural, from English Grammar Today, Cambridge University Press Uncountable nouns, English Club
Face-to-face support
Who can help with English at Monash?LearnHQ consultations - support from a SAS learning advisorEnglish Connect - improving conversational English and presentation skills
Resources – grammar books
Azar, B. S. & Hagen, S.A. (2009). Understanding and using English grammar (4th ed.). USA: Pearson Longman.Borjars, K. & Burridge, K. Introducing English grammar (2nd ed.). London: Hodder Education.Foley, M. & Hall, D. (2012). MyGrammarLab (Advanced). England: Pearson.Hewings, M. (2012). Advanced grammar in use: a reference and practice book for advanced students of English (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Murphy, R. (2011). English Grammar in Use (Intermediate) (3 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Copyright © Monash University (2017). All rights reserved. Except as provided in the Copyright Act 1968, this work may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of English Connect web administrator. Material created by Dr Anna Podorova, Ms Julia Ghazarian and Dr Amber McLeod.
FAQs
What are 10 examples of singular nouns? ›
Some examples of singular nouns are pen, slate, chalk, bottle, tub, soap, window, phone, cycle, pigeon, chair, game, meal and so on.
What are 10 examples of plural nouns? ›- Man – men.
- Woman – women.
- Ox – oxen.
- Goose – geese.
- Child – children.
- Tooth – teeth.
- Foot – feet.
- Mouse – mice.
Definition: Singular means only one. Plural means more than one. In order to make a noun plural, it is usually only necessary to add s. However, there are many irregular nouns that add es. The rules for spelling plural nouns are based on the letters at the end of the word.
Is Answer singular or plural? ›The plural form of answer is answers. Find more words!
What are 5 plural words? ›- child – children.
- person – people.
- man – men.
- woman – women.
- tooth – teeth.
- foot – feet.
- mouse – mice.
- goose – geese.
Singular nouns are used in the sentences to indicate only one person, place, thing or idea.
What are 20 examples of plural nouns? ›| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| woman | women |
| man | men |
| child | children |
| tooth | teeth |
Plural Noun Examples
The boys were throwing baseballs back and forth between bases. Our horses are much happier wearing lightweight English saddles. Those cats never seem to tire of chasing one another in and out of those boxes. You stole my ideas and didn't give me any credit.
- My dog (singular noun) is (singular verb) big and hairy.
- In my opinion, cats (plural noun) are (plural verb) the cutest pets in the world.
- Emily (singular noun) jogs (singular verb) to work every morning.
- The ancient Romans (plural noun) were (plural verb) very powerful.
The singular form of the noun refers to just a single item. For instance, “an apple” refers to just one apple. The plural form of the noun (apples) refers to more than one apple. For most nouns, “-s” is added to the end of the sentence to create the plural form.
What is the example of plural form? ›
A plural noun is a noun that refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Most singular nouns are made plural by adding a suffix, usually –s or –es. For example, the singular noun dog takes the plural form dogs, as in three dogs.
Why you is singular and plural? ›Originally, the pair ye and you was used along with thee and thou to refer to people in the second person, ye and you for plural and thee and thou for singular. You began as the grammatical object, used in the following ways: I see you sitting there together. I gave you six apples, three for each.
What is plural for answer? ›plural answers. 1 answer. /ˈænsɚ/ Brit /ˈɑːnsə/ noun. plural answers.
What is plural form of answer? ›answer. Plural. answers. The plural form of answer; more than one (kind of) answer.
What is a sentence answer? ›A sentence is a grammatically complete idea. All sentences have a noun or pronoun component called the subject, and a verb part called the predicate.
What is the plural of 20? ›The plural form of twenty is twenties.
What is the plural form of 100? ›Word forms: plural hundreds language note: The plural form is hundred after a number, or after a word or expression referring to a number, such as 'several' or 'a few'. A hundred or one hundred is the number 100. According to one official more than a hundred people have been arrested.
What are the 3 types of plural? ›- nonsibilant, or voiceless, consonants: add -s (dogs).
- voiced, or sibilant, consonant blends: add -es (riches).
- vowels: add -s (knees).
- -f: delete -f and add -ves (loaves) or -s (chiefs).
- -x: add -es (foxes).
- -y: delete -y and add -ies (bodies).
- dog, cat, animal, man, person.
- bottle, box, litre.
- coin, note, dollar.
- cup, plate, fork.
- table, chair, suitcase, bag.
In Modern English, you is the second-person pronoun. It is grammatically plural, and was historically used only for the dative case, but in most modern dialects is used for all cases and numbers.
Is all plural or singular? ›
Since “all” refers to more than one thing, it's a plural, so the correct noun clause is “all that remain.” Things like mass nouns (i.e. uncountable) are singular. You might say “all of the wheat is ground up,” for example. So be careful with all that you write.
What is an example of a plural noun in form but singular in meaning? ›Certain nouns have a plural form (ending in -s ) but a singular meaning: news; shingles, mumps, rickets; dominoes, billiards, darts etc.: What's the news? Shingles is caused by the same virus as chicken pox. Billiards is a game which connects mathematics and football.
Why I is plural in English? ›Perhaps “I” sounds plural because the first-person singular pronoun “I” uses verbs that sound plural (e.g., the singular “I have an idea” but the singular “she has an idea” and the plural “we have an idea”).
How do you make a noun plural in a sentence? ›- The boys are naughty.
- The oxen are halting under the trees.
- The sheep are taking a heavy load.
- The women are brave.
- These men are being looked gentle.
- Some trees leave their leaves during winter.
- My father has bought few mangoes from the market.
- There are many cities in India.
(sɪŋgjʊləʳ ) 1. adjective. The singular form of a word is the form that is used when referring to one person or thing.
How do you write plural words? ›Plural Nouns in English - Regular & Irregular Plurals - YouTube
How do you explain singular and plural to Class 1? ›Singular and Plural Nouns For Kids | English (Grade 1 & 2) - YouTube
What are the 10 examples of subject? ›...
This is an Expert-Verified Answer
- Tina is reading a book. in this Tina is subject the the leftover sentence is predicate.
- Sofia is eating an Apple.
- Ram is dancing.
- She is a teacher.
- He is a business man.
A singular verb is one that has an s added to it in the present tense, such as writes, plays, runs, and uses forms such as is, was, has, does. A plural verb does not have an s added to it, such as write, play, run, and uses forms such as are, were, have and do. E.g.
Is two plural or singular? ›The numeral 2 is singular. The number two is, in English and many other languages, plural. In languages which have a dual form, the number two is dual.
What is you plural in English? ›
English has always had a gender-neutral second-person plural pronoun: you. You has been the second-person plural pronoun since the days of Old English. You has always been everyone's second-person plural, from Beowulf to both the Queens Elizabeth (or if you prefer, both the Queen Elizabeths).
What are the first-person singular? ›Singular first-person pronouns include I, me, my, mine and myself.
What are singular nouns? ›Updated on October 7, 2022 · Grammar. A singular noun is a noun that refers to only one person, place, thing, or idea. It's contrasted with plural nouns, which refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
What are the 10 countable nouns? ›- dog, cat, animal, man, person.
- bottle, box, litre.
- coin, note, dollar.
- cup, plate, fork.
- table, chair, suitcase, bag.
A singular verb is one that has an s added to it in the present tense, such as writes, plays, runs, and uses forms such as is, was, has, does. A plural verb does not have an s added to it, such as write, play, run, and uses forms such as are, were, have and do.
What is the singular noun of sheep? ›| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| sheep | sheep |
| fish | fish |
| deer | deer |
| species | species |
Love is a singular noun. The plural of "love" is "loves".
Is all plural or singular? ›Since “all” refers to more than one thing, it's a plural, so the correct noun clause is “all that remain.” Things like mass nouns (i.e. uncountable) are singular. You might say “all of the wheat is ground up,” for example. So be careful with all that you write.
Why you is singular and plural? ›Originally, the pair ye and you was used along with thee and thou to refer to people in the second person, ye and you for plural and thee and thou for singular. You began as the grammatical object, used in the following ways: I see you sitting there together. I gave you six apples, three for each.
What are 5 examples of uncountable nouns? ›- tea.
- sugar.
- water.
- air.
- rice.
- knowledge.
- beauty.
- anger.
What is countable and uncountable nouns give 5 examples? ›
Countable nouns can be counted, e.g. an apple, two apples, three apples, etc. Uncountable nouns cannot be counted, e.g. air, rice, water, etc. When you learn a new noun, you should check if it is countable or uncountable and note how it is used in a sentence.
Is you a singular or plural? ›In Modern English, you is the second-person pronoun. It is grammatically plural, and was historically used only for the dative case, but in most modern dialects is used for all cases and numbers.
What are the 10 examples of subject? ›...
This is an Expert-Verified Answer
- Tina is reading a book. in this Tina is subject the the leftover sentence is predicate.
- Sofia is eating an Apple.
- Ram is dancing.
- She is a teacher.
- He is a business man.
- My dog (singular noun) is (singular verb) big and hairy.
- In my opinion, cats (plural noun) are (plural verb) the cutest pets in the world.
- Emily (singular noun) jogs (singular verb) to work every morning.
- The ancient Romans (plural noun) were (plural verb) very powerful.
The plural form of 'fish' is the same as the singular form when you are talking about one kind of fish. I have one fish in my fishtank. I have two fish in my fish tank.
What is potato plural? ›po·ta·to | \ pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō , -tə, dialectal pə-ˈdā-, bə- \ plural potatoes.
What is the singular of teeth? ›The concept is a mix of singular (tooth) and plural (teeth), but has children separating singular and plural.