Singular and Plural in English Grammar – Chapter 2

 

CHAPTER 2: NUMBER (SINGULAR & PLURAL)

Learn English Level: Beginner

Exam Use: SSC / Group / Banking / Foundation

WHAT IS NUMBER? (English)

In Grammar, Number shows whether a noun refers to one person/thing or more than one.

There are two types of Number:

1.   Singular Number

2.   Plural Number

NUMBER నిర్వచనం (తెలుగు):

Grammar లో Number అనేది నామవాచకం ఒకటి (ఒక్క వ్యక్తి/వస్తువు) లేదా అనేక (ఒక్కకంటే ఎక్కువ) ఉన్నదా అని చూపిస్తుంది.

Number రెండు రకాలు:

1.   Singular (ఏకవచనం)

2.   Plural (బహువచనం)

SINGULAR NUMBER (ఏకవచనం):

A noun that refers to one person, one place, one animal or one thing is called Singular Number.

Examples:

·        Boy

·        Girl

·        Book

·        Chair

·        Dog

Sentences:

·        This is a book.

·        The boy is playing.

·        She has a pen.

PLURAL NUMBER (బహువచనం):

A noun that refers to more than one is called Plural Number.

Examples:

·        Boys

·        Girls

·        Books

·        Chairs

·        Dogs

Sentences:

·        These are books.

·        The boys are playing.

·        They have pens.

RULES TO FORM PLURAL NOUNS:

RULE 1: Add – s to most nouns

Singular → Plural

Boy → Boys

Pen → Pens

Book → Books

Car → Cars

RULE 2: Add – es to nouns ending with

s, ss, sh, ch, x, z

Singular → Plural

Bus → Buses

Glass → Glasses

Brush → Brushes

Box → Boxes

Watch → Watches

RULE 3: Nouns ending with y

A) If consonant + y → change y to i + es

Baby → Babies

City → Cities

Lady → Ladies

B) If vowel + y → add s

Boy → Boys

Toy → Toys

Day → Days

RULE 4: Nouns ending with o

A) Add –es (mostly)

Hero → Heroes

Potato → Potatoes

Tomato → Tomatoes

B) Add –s (some words)

Photo → Photos

Radio → Radios

Piano → Pianos

RULE 5: Nouns ending with f / fe

Change f / fe to ves

Leaf → Leaves

Knife → Knives

Wife → Wives

Exceptions:

Roof → Roofs

Chief → Chiefs

IRREGULAR PLURALS

Singular → Plural

Man → Men

Woman → Women

Child → Children

Tooth → Teeth

Foot → Feet

Mouse → Mice

Goose → Geese

SAME FORM (Singular & Plural same):

Sheep → Sheep

Deer → Deer

Fish → Fish (fishes also used sometimes)

COLLECTIVE NOUNS (Plural meaning, Singular form):

Team

Class

Army

Family

Example:

* The team is winning.

COMMON EXAM MISTAKES:

❌ Two childs

✅ Two children

❌ Many informations

✅ Much information

❌ Sheeps

✅ Sheep

PRACTICE EXERCISE

Write plural of:

1.   Boy –

2.   Leaf –

3.   City –

Answers:

Boys, Leaves, Cities

Correct the sentence:

* Two child are playing.

Correct: Two children are playing.

IMPORTANCE OF NUMBER:

Correct use of Singular and Plural helps in forming grammatically correct sentences and avoids exam mistakes.