Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular and Plural Nouns Notes On Generalizations For Spelling/Forming 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

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: • For most singular nouns, add s.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: 2. For nouns ending with s, x, z, sh, or ch, add es.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: 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.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: • 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.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: 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

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

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: 7. A few nouns have the same singular and plural forms.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: 8. A few nouns have only plural forms.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: 9. A few nouns that end with slook plural but are considered singular.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: • 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.

Generalizations for forming plural nouns: One word compound nouns Separate words Hyphenated compound nouns

Generalizations for forming plural 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