Singular Nouns

1. Singular Nouns How can we make a noun plural in an easy way?

2. Singular Noun Definition • When a noun means one only, it is said to be singular. • Examples: boy, girl, woman, man, child, Church cat lamp fork church book

3. How are the plurals of most nouns formed? • RULE #1: The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding S to a singular noun • Examples: lamp - lamps • cat - cats • fork - forks • flower – flowers • pen - pens

4. How is a plural made when a noun ends in S, Z, X, SH and CH? • RULE #2: Nouns ending in S, Z, X, SH and CH form the plural by adding -es. • Examples: moss - mosses buzz - buzzes church - churches box – boxes miss - misses dish - dishes pass - passes

5. Why do you add –es to make a plural noun ending in s, z, x, sh or ch? • If you just added -s to such nouns as fox, bush, bench, pass or buzz – you would find you cannot pronounce them without making an extra syllable. This is why such nouns form the plural by adding -es. • Try it - bushscatchsboxs foxsbuzzs

6. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in Y and is preceded by a consonant? • Rule #4: Nouns ending in -Y, preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding -S. Examples: Boy - boys Key - keys day - days pay - pays

7. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in o and is preceded by a consonant? Rule #5: Most nouns ending in O, preceded by a consonant is formed into a plural by adding -es. Examples: hero - heroes grotto - grottoes mango - mangoes tomato - tomatoes

8. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in o and has a vowel before the O? • Most nouns ending in O, with a vowel before the o are made plural by adding -S. Examples: folio - folios cameo – cameos studio – studios portfolio - portfolios

9. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in - f or -fe? • Rule #6: Some nouns ending in F or FE are made plural by changing F or FE to –VES Examples: wife wives leaf leaves safe saves loaf loaves thief thieves calf calves

10. Are there any exceptions to the -f or -fe to the -ves rule? • Many nous may form their plurals by just add –S Examples: chief - chiefs grief - griefs fife – fifes mischief – mischiefs hoof - hoofs roof - roofs

11. IRREGULAR PLURALS • Give a couple of examples of irregular plurals • AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALWAYS PLURALS THAT JUST DON’T FOLLOW ANY RULES. The following are just a few: Man –Men Woman – Women Child – Children Foot – Feet Tooth – Teeth Mouse – Mice Louse – Lice Ox – Oxen Goose – Geese

12. Let’s look at these in a handout together • Safe • Rife • Wife • Knife • Ruffle • giraffe