Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular vs. Plural • A singular noun names one person, place, thing, or idea. • One cat, one store, one item • A plural noun names two or more persons, places, things, or ideas. • Two cats, four stores, fifteen items

For most singular nouns, add s.

2. For nouns ending with s, x, z, sh, or ch, add es.

3. For nouns ending with a consonant and y, change the y to i and add es. For nouns ending with a vowel and y, add s.

For some nouns ending with f or fe, add s. For others, change the f to vand add s or es. (You will need to memorize the spellings for such words or look them up in a dictionary to check.

These are a little more tricky . . . 5. For nouns that end with o, add s or es. (Again, you would need to memorize the spellings of such words or look them up in a dictionary to double-check.) —One trick to remember: if it has to do with sound (“music”), just add s.—Ex: cello. piano, radio

6. Some nouns have irregular plural forms. You will have to memorize the spelling for irregular plurals.

7. A few nouns have the same singular and plural forms.

8. A few nouns have only plural forms.

9. A few nouns that end with slook plural but are considered singular.

Compound Nouns • For most compound nouns, make the most important word plural. • For a compound noun written as one word, make the last part plural. • For a compound noun written with hyphens or as separate words, make the key word plural.

One word compound nouns Separate words Hyphenated compound nouns

11. Letters, numbers, symbols, and words used as words are made plural by adding an apostrophe (‘) and s.

Using a Dictionary: Nouns that are made plural in other ways besides just adding -s or -es can be looked up in a dictionary to check the correct spelling. Sample Dictionary entries: dic-tion-ar-y (dik’ she ner’ e), n., pl.–aries, a book containing words of a language, usually arranged alphabetically, with their meanings, pronunciations, etymologies, etc. en-try (en’ tre), n., pl.-tries. 1. entrance. 2. the act of recording something in a book, register, etc. 3. the item so recorded. 4. a person or thing entered in a contest. 5. a word, phrase, etc. listed alphabetically in a dictionary or reference book, usually with its definition or explanation.

Multiple Choice Which 2 words correctly complete these sentences? We bought a pair of _____ and some _____ at the yard sale. A. ski . . . dishes B. skis . . . dishs C. skies . . . dish D. skis . . . dishes

OOPS! . . . Try again!

CORRECT! We bought a pair of _skis_ and some _dishes_ at the yard sale.

Multiple Choice One of her _______ is studying _______ in the wild. A. hobbys . . . monkeyes B. hobbyes . . . monkies C. hobbies . . . monkeys D. hobbys. . . monkees

CORRECT! One of her _hobbies_ is studying _monkeys_ in the wild.

Multiple Choice A team of ______ pulled a wagon with three _______ inside. A. ox . . . woman B. oxen . . . women C. oxes . . . women D. oxens . . . womans

CORRECT! A team of _oxen_ pulled a wagon with three _women_ inside.

Multiple Choice Near the campsite they saw two _______ and several ________. A. deer . . . moose B. deers . . . moose C. deers . . . mooses D. deer . . . meese

CORRECT! Near the campsite they saw two _deer_ and several _moose_.

Newspaper Nouns • Use a newspaper or magazine article for this activity: • In the article, find at least 25 singular nouns. Circle them with a colored pencil. • On your own paper, make a T-chart. . . on the left side write “Singular” and write “Plural” on the right side of the T-chart. • List the singular nouns you found in the article on the left side of the T-chart, then write the correct plural form of each on the right side.

Scoring Guide: You should find at least 25 singular nouns. Each of the plural nouns formed correctly from these 25 singular nouns is worth 4 points, for a total of 100. Opportunity for BONUS points: For every 5 additional singular nouns you identify, list, and form the plural of correctly, you can earn one bonus point.—up to a maximum of 5 bonus points (i.e. it takes 25 additional singular nouns correctly made plural to earn all 5 bonus points—but you can do it!!!)

Scoring Guide: 4 points each = total points 100 100% = 25 singular nouns identified and listed with plural form spelled correctly. 96% = 24 singular nouns identified and listed with plural form spelled correctly. 92% = 23 singular nouns identified and listed with plural form spelled correctly. Etc. Grading: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F = Below 60%

Singular and Plural Nouns