THE PLURAL OF NOUNS

I. INTRODUCTION
The word noun comes from the latin nomen meaning name. Word classes like
nouns were first described by th Sanskrit grammarian Pnini and ancient Greeks like
Dionysios Thra! and defined in terms of their mor"hological "ro"erties.
#oun is a leical category which is defined in terms of how its members combine with
other grammatical kinds of e"ressions. Since different languages ha$e different in$entories
of grammatical categories! the definition of noun will differ from language to language. %n
&nglish! nouns can be defined as those mor"hological stems that form words which can co'
occur with (in)definite articles and attributi$e ad*ecti$es! and function as the head of a noun
"hrase.
%n traditional school grammars! one often encounters the definition of nouns that they
are all and only those e"ressions that refer to a person! place! thing! event! substance!
quality! or idea! etc. This is a semantic definition. %t has been critici+ed by contem"orary
linguists as being ,uite uninformati$e.
-ontem"orary linguists generally agree that one can.t define nouns in terms of what
sort of object in the world they refer to or signify. Part of the "roblem is that the definition
makes use of relati$ely general nouns (/thing!/ /"henomenon!/ /e$ent/) to define what nouns
are.
0nother "roblem that we encounter in studying noun in different language is the
"roblem of loans. 1oanwords are words ado"ted by the s"eakers of one language from a
different language (the source language). 0 loanword can also be called a borrowing.
2orrowing is a conse,uence of cultural contact between two language communities.
2orrowing of words can go in both directions between the two languages in contact! but often
there is an asymmetry! such that more words go from one side to the other. The actual "rocess
of borrowing is com"le and in$ol$es many usage e$ents. Generally! some s"eakers of the
borrowing language know the source language too! or at least enough of it to utili+e the
rele$ant words. They ado"t them when s"eaking the borrowing language. 3owe$er! in time
more s"eakers can become familiar with a new foreign word.
4
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
&nglish has gone through many "eriods in which large numbers of words from a
"articular language were borrowed. These "eriods coincide with times of ma*or cultural
contact between &nglish s"eakers and those s"eaking other languages. The wa$es of
borrowing during "eriods of es"ecially strong cultural contacts are not shar"ly delimited! and
can o$erla".
5urther on! in my study i6ll try to clarify also the "roblem of "lural regarding to
borrowed nouns.

7
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
1. The REGULAR PLURAL
There are nouns that form the "lural in a regular way. These! according to
their form'be it singular or "lural'make the concord with the finite $erb. The general
rule for forming the "lural number of such a noun is by adding the inflection -s to the
singular form.
&am"les8
boy Boys
girl Girls
cat Cats
chair Chairs
day Days
dog Dogs
hose !oses
boo" Boo"s
#lay Plays
toy Toys
%n s"eech the regular "lural has three different "ronunciations(9i+9! 9+9! 9s9)
de"ending on the final sound of the base.
#ouns e$di$g i$ sile$t %e #receded by a &ricati'e add an etra syllable in
taking the (s8
bridge ) bridges
cor#se ) cor#ses
bo* ) bo*es
and these will be "ronounced 9i+9.
#ouns e$di$g i$ 'o+els a$d 'oiced so$ds other tha$ 'oiced sibila$ts
are to be "ronounced 9+98
bed ) beds
hero ) heroes
:
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
#ouns e$di$g i$ 'oiceless so$ds other tha$ 'oiceless sibila$ts are to be
"ronounced 9s98
bet ) bets
,o$th ) ,o$ths
The ' s suffi is written ; s after most nouns including those ending in
silent ;e.
Adition of es
#ouns e$di$g i$ a &ricati'e - $less +ritte$ +ith a sile$t ( e . (s- (/ - (* -
(ch- (sh - (ss- (//0 add %es to the singular noun to build u" their "lurals! thus by adding a
syllable8
bo* ) bo*es
ta* ) ta*es
+atch ) +atches
#ouns e$di$g i$ (th are ece"tional! usually adding (s only8
,oth ) ,oths
#ath ) #aths
Ttreatment of y
%f the nouns end in (y and (y is "receded by a consonant ! the "lural takes
the form of %ies8
cry ) cries
try ) tries
%n #ro#er $a,es! we sim"ly add the inflection %s to the singular8
1ary ) 1arys
#ouns e$di$g i$ (2y form the "lural in %ies! because in such words the
does not make a di"hthong with y but the 2.3"+0 is regarded as a double consonant8
collo2y ) collo2ies
No$s e$di$g i$ o
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
%f the noun ends in %o and the %o is #receded by a co$so$a$t! the "lural is
generally formed by adding %es4
Negro ) $egroes
to,ato ) to,atoes
2ut all nouns ending in (o #receded by a 'o+el form the "lural in %s and
not in %es8
ba,boo ) ba,boos
e,bryo ) e,bryos
&olio ) &olios
Some nouns ending in %o #receded by a co$so$a$t! form the "lural in %s
and not in %es4
grotto Grottos
#ro'iso Pro'osos
ca$to Ca$tos
ta$go Ta$gos
tobacco Tobaccos
,e,e$to 1e,e$tos
#ia$o Pia$os
solo 5olos
so#ra$o 5o#ra$os
co$certo Co$certos
There are few nouns ending in %o which form the "lural both in (s and
%es8
5G. PL. i$ (s PL. i$ %es
archi#elago archi#elagos archi#elagoes
ba$6o ba$6os Ba$6oes
b&&alo b&&alos B&&aloes
cargo cargos Cargoes
co,,a$do co,,a$dos co,,a$does
do,i$o do,i$os Do,i$oes
&la,i$go &la,i$gos &la,i$goes
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
,os2ito ,os2itos ,os2itoes
,otto ,ottos 1ottoes
tor$ado tor$ados Tor$adoes
'olca$o 'olca$os 7olca$oes
8. The IRREGULAR PLURAL
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
2.1 The irregular plural formed through mutation
There are nine nouns which form the "lural by a change of the inside $owel8
,ose 1ice
goose Geese
tit,ose Tit,ice
+o,a$ 9o,e$
tooth Teeth
dor,ose Dor,ice
&oot :eet
lose Lice
,a$ 1e$
2.2 The irregular plural formed by adding the inflection -en
There are four nouns which form the "lural in %e$ or ($e
o* O*e$
co+ ;i$e
child Childre$
brother Brethre$
The "lural form brethren has suffered a change in meaning8 fellow
members of a religious society otherwise the "lural is regular8 brothers
The noun #e$$y also admits two "lural forms ha$ing a different meaning8
#e$ce in 2ritish currency8 !ere is te$ #e$ce.
#e$$ies for indi$idual coins8 !ere are te$ #e$$ies.

>>
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
2.3 The irregular plural formed by changing -f into -v
#ouns ending in (& form the "lural by adding inflection (s8
Chie& chie&s
Roo& roo&s
Belie& belie&s
Cli&& cli&&s

Sometimes! if the noun ends in (& or (&e ! the "lural is formed by changing (&
or (&e into ('es4
5G. PL.
;$i&e "$i'es
Li&e li'es
5el& sel'es
Cal& cal'es
Loa& loa'es
Thie& thie'es
!al& hal'es
9i&e +i'es
9ol& +ol'es
El& el'es
5hel& shel'es
Lea& lea'es
5hea& shea'es
Some nouns ending in (& or (&e ha$e both the regular form in (s and the
ece"tional one in ('es4
5G. PL.
!oo& hoo'es and hoo&s
5car& scar'es and scar&s
5ta&& sta'es and sta&&s
Bee& bee'es and bee&s
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
9har& +har'es and +ar&s
ha$d"ercie& ha$d"erchie'es ) ( chie&s
D+ar& d+ar'es and d+ar&s

There are at least three nouns ending in 'fe which form the "lural by sim"ly
adding (s4
5a&e sa&es
5tri&e stri&es
:i&e &i&es
2.4 The IRRE!"#R $"!R#" formed by the %ero plural
&the 'ame form in the 'ingular and plural(
Some nouns ha$e the same form for singular and "lural either always or in certain
contets. Aerbs and reference words used with such nouns are either singular or "lural
corres"onding to the reality e"ressed by the nouns8
Li'i$g bei$gs ( deer) 'heep) '*ine) 'almon) trout) cod) etc. as well as the
names of other animals! when used in a hunting contet! referred to as game8
' The fi'herman caught t*o pi+e.
or whcn the animal is thought of as food8
' ,ould you li+e 'ome more fi'h -
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
Collecti'e $,erals ( yo+e (of oen). brace (of birds)! do%en) head (of cattle)
'core) gro'') 'tone.
.undred) thou'and) million) billion) do%en) 'care) hundred*eight
take (s when they do not follow a definite indication of number.
0fter indefinite numerals both forms are found8
' There *ere hundred' of people in the 'treet/
' 0he bougftt three 'core ofegg'.
%n attributi$e usage! usually the form without (s is found8
' a five pound note)
' a ten-minute conver'ation)
' a 'i1-mile *al+)
' a 'i1ty-acre farm
No$s e$di$g i$ (s ( barrac+') gallo*') head2uarter') mean') *or+'
(factory) and its com"ounds like ga'-*or+') iron-*or+'.
No$s e$di$g i$ (es ( 'erie') 'pecie') which although historically foreign are
no longer felt as such.
Others ( aircraft) coun'el (barrister)! 'hot ("ro*ectile)! off'pring
Natio$ality $a,es (ending in a hissing sound)8 3hine'e) 4apane'e) 0*i''.
( some nationality and tribal names are sometimes used without (s 8
5edouin&'() E'+imo&'() 6avaho&'(
2.7 The IRRE!"#R $"!R#" a' foreign plural
Irreglar #lrals &ro, Lati$ a$d Gree"
2ecause &nglish includes words from so many ancestral languages! as well as many
loanwords from 1atin! -lassical Greek and modern languages! there are many other forms of
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
"lurals. Such nouns ("articularly ones from 1atin) often retain their original "lurals! at least
for some time after they are introduced. %n some cases both forms are still $ying for attention8
for eam"le! for a librarian! the "lural of a##e$di* is a##e$dices (following the original
language)D for "hysicians! howe$er! the "lural of a##e$di* is a##e$di*es. 1ikewise! a radio
engineer works with a$te$$as and an entomologist deals with a$te$$ae. The /correct/ form
is the one that sounds better in contet! or that "eo"le in the field use.
-orrectly formed 1atin "lurals are the most acce"table! and indeed are often re,uired!
in academic and scientific contets. %n common usage! "lurals with (s are sometimes
"referred.
5inal a becomes (ae ! or *ust adds -'4
Al,$a al,$ae
:or,la &or,lae)&or,las
5inal e* or i* becomes (ices! or *ust adds (es4
I$de* i$dices
1atri* ,atrices
7erte* 'ertices
5inal is becomes es4
A*is a*es
Crisis crises
Testis testes
5inal o$ becomes (a4
Ato,ato$ ato,ata
Criterio$ criteria
#he$o,e$o$ #he$o,e$a
#olyhedro$ #olyhedra
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
5inal , becomes (a- or *ust adds (s4
Adde$d, adde$da
Dat, data
:or, &ora)&or,s
1edi, ( ,edia (in communications and
com"uters)
( ,edi,s (s"iritualists)
,e,ora$d, ,e,ora$da ) ,e,ora$d,s
5inal s becomes (i or (era or (ora or *ust adds %es4
Al,$s al,$i
Cor#s cor#ora
Ge$s ge$era
#ros#ects #ros#ectses
Radis radii
7iscs 'iscera
Eany nouns of 1atin origin with a final (s that take an (i in "lural form can also! in
modern usage! take an (es instead. Euch formal or technical writing insists on the (i
"lural! whereas either ending is acce"table in common usage.
Cacts cacti)cactses
C
hi##o#ota,s hi##o#ota,i)hi##o#ota,ses
Octo#s octo#ses
4
Platy#s #laty#i)#laty#ses
Uters teri)terses
5inal as in one case of a noun of Greek origin changes to
(a$tes8
Atlas Atla$tes (statues of the hero)
Atlas atlases (ma" collections)
C
in 0ri+ona many "eo"le a$oid either choice with cactus as both singular and "lural
4
octo#i also occurs! although strictly s"eaking unfounded! since the word is of Greek! not 1atin origin. The
theoretically correct form octo#odes is rarely used
>7
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
5inal ,a in nouns of Greek origin can add -ta- although (s
is usually also acce"table! and in many cases more common
5tig,a stig,ata ) stig,as
5to,a sto,ata ) sto,as
5che,a sche,ata ) sche,as
Dog,a dog,ata ) dog,as
Le,,a le,,ata ) le,,as
There are also +ords borrowed &ro, other languages that in certain
circumstances retain their original endings in the "lural8
!EBRE94
cherub 8 cherubim &cherub'() 'eraph 8'eraphim &'eraph'(
ITALIAN4
bandit8bandi9ii &bandit'() virtuo'o 8virtuo'i also 'irtosos
Co$&etti (from %tallian co$&etto! which is not used in &nglish) takes a
singular $erb.
Gra&&iti (lacking a singular form) takes the "lural.
:RENC!4
beau 8beau1) bureau 8bureau1
>:
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
<. PLURAL5 O: NU1BER5
&nglish! like some other languages! treats large numerals as nouns. Thus
do/e$s is "referred to te$s- while h$dreds and thosa$ds are also
com"letely acce"table.
Plurals of numbers differ according to how they are used. The following
rules a""ly to do/e$- score- h$dred- thosa$d- ,illio$- and similar terms8
When modified by a number! the "lural is not inflected! that is!
has no -s added. 3ence one hundred! two hundred! etc. 5or
$aguer large numbers! one may say several hundred or many
hundreds.
When used alone! or followed by a "re"ositional "hrase! the
"lural is inflected8 dozens of complaints! scores of people.
3owe$er! either complaints by the dozen or complaints by the
dozens is acce"table (although differing in meaning).
The "re"osition of is used when s"eaking of nons"ecific items
identified by "ronouns8 two hundred of these, three dozen of
those. The of is not used for a number of s"ecific items8 three
hundred oriental rugs. 3owe$er! if the "ronoun is included with
the s"ecific item! the of is used8 five million of those dollar bills.
><
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
=. DE:ECTI7E NOUN5
Some nouns ha$e no singular form. Such a noun is called a "lurale
tantum8
billiards-clothes- ,easles- tha$"s- 'ittles
Some of these do ha$e singular ad*ecti$e forms! such as billiard ball.
%n addition! some are treated as singular in construction! e.g.! /billiards is a
ga,e #layed o$ a table +ith ,lti#le balls a$d a ce stic"./
0 "articular set of nouns! describing things ha$ing two "arts!
com"rises the ma*or grou" of "luralia tantum in modern &nglish8
#a$ts- scissors- shorts- trosers
These words are interchangeable with a #air o& scissors- a #air o&
trosers! and so forth. %n the F.S. fashion industry it is common to refer to a
single "air of "ants as a "ant! the &nglish word (deri$ing from the 5rench
#a$talo$) was originally singular. %n the same field! one half of a "air of
scissors se"arated from the other half is! rather illogically! referred to as a
hal&(scissor. T+ee/ers used to be "art of this grou"! but twee+er has come
into common usage since the second half of the twentieth century.
Eass nouns (or uncountable nouns) do not re"resent distinct ob*ects!
so the singular and "lural semantics do not a""ly in the same way.
&am"les8
0bstract nouns
good$ess- idle$ess- ho$esty- deceit- &resh$ess- bitter$ess-
i$&or,atio$- obscrity- +isdo,- c$$i$g
0rts and sciences
>=
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
che,istry- geo,etry- srgery- ,echa$ics- o#tics- bles-
7
6a//-
roc" a$d roll- i,#ressio$is,- srrealis,
-hemical elements and other "hysical entities8
a$ti,o$y- gold- o*yge$- e2i#,e$t- &r$itre- gear- s#ecies- air-
+ater- sa$d
Some mass nouns can be "lurali+ed! but the meaning thereof may
change slightly. 5or eam"le! when % ha$e two "ieces of sand! % do not ha$e
two sandsD % ha$e sand. There is more sand in your "ile! not more sands. 2ut
there could be many /sa$ds o& A&rica/Geither many distinct stretches of
sand! or distinct ty"es of sand of interest to geologists or builders! or sim"ly
the allusi$e sa$ds o& A&rica.
%t is rare to "lurali+e &r$itre in this way. #or would i$&or,atio$
be so treated! ece"t in the case of cri,i$al i$&or,atio$s! which are
"rosecutor.s briefs similar to indictments.
There is only one class of atoms called oygen! but there are se$eral
isoto"es of oygen! which might be referred to as different oygens. %n
casual s"eech! o*yge$ might be used as shorthand for o*yge$ ato,s! but in
this case it is not a mass noun! so it is entirely sensible to refer to multi"le
oygens in the same molecule.
5#ecie and s#ecies make a fascinating case. 2oth words come from a
1atin word meaning /kind/! but they do not form a singular'"lural "airD they
are se"arate nouns. -oins! such as nickels! euros! and cents are s#ecie! but
there is no "lural. The idea is /"ayment in kind/. 0nd s#ecies! the /kinds of
li$ing things/! is the same in singular and "lural.
7
Heferring to the musical style as a whole.
@?
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
>. PLURAL5 O: CO1POUND
NOUN5
The ma*ority of &nglish com"ound nouns ha$e one basic term! or
head! with which they end! and are "lurali+ed in ty"ical fashion8
able sea,a$ able sea,e$
headba$ger headba$gers
yello+(dog co$tract yello+(dog co$tracts
0 com"ound that has one head! with which it begins! usually
"lurali+es its head8
attor$ey ge$eral attor$eys ge$eral
bill o& attai$der bills o& attai$der
cort ,artial corts ,artial
go'er$or(ge$eral go'er$ors(ge$eral
#asserby #assersby
5hi# o& the li$e shi#s o& the li$e
5o$(i$(la+ so$s(i$(la+
#rocrator &iscal &in 0cotland( #rocrators &iscal
but8
,a6ordo,o ,a6ordo,os
%t is common in informal s"eech to instead "lurali+e the last word in
the manner ty"ical of most &nglish nouns! but in edited "rose! the forms
gi$en abo$e are "referred.
@>
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
%f a com"ound can be thought to ha$e two heads! both of them tend to
be "lurali+ed when the first head has an irregular "lural form8
,a$(child ,e$(childre$
,a$ser'a$t ,e$ser'a$ts
+o,a$ doctor +o,e$ doctors
Two'headed com"ounds in which the first head has a standard "lural
form! howe$er! tend to "lurali+e only the final head8
City(state city(states
$rse(#racticio$er $rse(#racticio$ers
scholar(#oet scholar(#oets
%n military usage! the term ge$eral! as "art of an officer.s title! is
etymologically an ad*ecti$e! but it has been ado"ted as a noun and thus a
head! so com"ound titles em"loying it are "lurali+ed at the end8
brigadier ge$eral brigadier ge$erals
,a6or ge$eral ,a6or ge$erals
5or many other com"ounds of three or more words with a head at the
frontGes"ecially in cases where the com"ound is ad hoc and9or the head is
meta"horicalGit is generally regarded as acce"table to "lurali+e either the
first ma*or term or the last8
!a, o$ rye ha,s o$ rye)ha,(o$(ryes
6ac"(i$(the(bo* 6ac"s(i$(the(bo*)6ac"(i$(the(bo*es
6ac"(i$(the(#l#it 6ac"s(i$(the(#l#it)6ac"(i$(the(#l#its
With a few etended com"ounds! both terms may be "lurali+edG
again! with an alternati$e8
@@
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
head o& state heads o& states)heads o& state
With etended com"ounds constructed around o?!only the last term is
"lurali+ed (or left unchanged if it is already "lural)8
cat(o?($i$e(tails cat(o?($i$e(tails
6ac"(o?(la$ter$ 6ac"(o?(la$ter$s
9ill(o?(the(+is# +ill(o?(the(+is#s
Co,#o$ds &ro, the :re$ch
Eany &nglish com"ounds ha$e been borrowed directly from the 5rench!
and these generally follow a somewhat different set of rules. 5rench'loaned
com"ounds with a head at the beginning tend to "lurali+e both words!
according to 5rench "ractice8
age$t #ro'ocater age$ts #ro'ocaters
e$te$te cordiale e$te$tes cordiales
:ait acco,#li &aits acco,#lis
id@e &i*e id@es &i*es
5or com"ounds ado"ted directly from the 5rench where the head
comes at the end! it is generally regarded as acce"table either to "lurali+e
both words or only the last8
bea geste bea* gestes)bea gestes
belle @#o2e belles @#o2es)belle @#o2es
bo$ ,ot bo$s ,ots)bo$ ,ots
bo$ 'i'a$t bo$s 'i'a$ts)bo$ 'i'a$ts
5rench'loaned com"ounds longer than two words tend to follow the
rules of the original language! which usually in$ol$es "lurali+ing only the
head at the beginning8
@B
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
aide(de(ca,# aides(de(ca,#
cri de coer cris de coer
co# d?@tat co#s d?@tat
tor de &orce tors de &orce
but8
tAte(B(tAte tAte(B(tAtes
0 distincti$e case is the com"ound &il, $oir. 5or this 5rench'loaned
artistic term! &nglish'language tets $ariously use as the "lural &il,s $oirs!
&il,s $oir! and! most "re$alently! &il, $oirs.
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
C. T!E PLURAL O: PROPER
NOUN5 PLURAL5 O: NA1E5 O:
PEOPLE5
There are se$eral different rules for this.
%n discussing "eo"les whose demonym takes (,a$ or (+o,a$! there
are three o"tions8 "lurali+e to (,e$ or (+o,e$ if referring to indi$iduals!
and use the root alone if referring to the whole nation! or add #eo#le.
Dtch,a$
Dtch+o,a$
Dtch,e$
Dtch+o,e$
the Dtch
E$glish,a$
E$glish+o,a$
E$glish,e$
E$glish+o,e$
the E$glish
:re$ch,a$
:re$ch+o,a$
:re$ch,e$
:re$ch+o,e$
the :re$ch
Irish,a$
Irish+o,a$
Irish,e$
Irish+o,e$
the Irish
5cots,a$
5cots+o,a$
5cots,e$
5cots+o,e$
the 5cots
9elsh,a$
9elsh+o,a$
9elsh,e$
9elsh+o,e$
the 9elsh
Ine can say /a 5cots.+o0,a$/ or /a Scot/! /5cots.+o0,e$/!
/5cottish #eo#le/! or /5cots!/ and /the 5cottish/ or /the 5cots/. (5cotch is
considered old fashioned.)
Se$eral "eo"les ha$e names that are sim"le nouns and can be
"lurali+ed by the addition of either (s or (ish (the later case often calls for the
elimination of terminal letters so the "lurali+ing suffi can be connected
directly with the last consonant of the root)8
@4
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
Da$e Da$es the Da$es
the Da$ish
:i$$ :i$$s the :i$$s
the :i$$ish
5#a$iard 5#a$iards the 5#a$iards
the 5#a$ish .,ch ,ore
co,,o$0
5+ede 5+edes the 5+edes
the 5+edish
#ames of "eo"les that end in (ese take no "lural8
Chi$ese Chi$ese
Chi$ese #eo#le
the Chi$ese
Da#a$ese Da#a$ese
Da#a$ese #eo#le
the Da#a$ese
Ither names of "eo"les that ha$e no "lural form include 5+iss and
E@b@cois.
Eost names for #ati$e 0mericans are not "lurali+ed8
Blood
!o#i
Iro2ois
1i?",a2
O6ib+a
5io*
Some ece"tions include 0lgon,uins! 0+tecs! -hi""ewas! -rees!
3urons! Eohawks! and Ineidas.
Pro"er nouns usually take the singular and are in$ariable8
.enry) the Thame'
2ut some "ro"er nouns ,ay take a "lural form8
9he$ the #ro#er $o$ is reclassi&ied as a co,,o$ $o$
@7
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
There are 0ha+e'pear' all over the *orld.- meaning authors like
Shakes"eare
9he$ they are &a,ily $a,es a$d re&ere$ce is ,ade to the +hole
&a,ily4
The ,il'on' are out to tunch.- meaning the 9ilso$ &a,ilyF
5o,e geogra#hical $a,es are #lral i$'ariables4
the 6etherland') the#lp'
%f the "ro"er nouns are used in the "lural as mentioned abo$e than
the forming of the "lural is done by adding ' s to the singular8
1ary 1arys
Bro+$ Bro+$s
-ertain "ro"er nouns e$di$g i$ a &ricati'e add ( es4
Br$s Br$ses
Co* Co*es
Dic"e$s Dic"e$ses
Pro"er names +ith titles form their "lurals by "lurali+ing only the
title or by "lurali+ing only the name.
1isses Bro+$ or 1iss Bro+$s
The "lural for 1iss is 1isses! for 1r. is 1essrs.! for
1ada, is 1esda,es! for 1aster is 1asters! 1rs. has no "lural!
hence the name must show the "lural i+ation.
When a title "recedes two or more names! the title only is "lurali+ed8
Dr. Bright a$dDr. 5,ith ) Drs. Bright a$d 5,ith
:oreig$ #ro#er $a,es usually form iheir "lurals in the &nglish way8
the Borgias- the D#o$ts- the Arlostos.
@:
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
G. The PLURAL o& Abbre'iatio$s-
N,bers a$d Letters o& the Al#habet
Letters o& the al#habet- $,erical characters a$d other s,all
sy,bols used as nouns form their "lurals by adding ' s4
Dot this i ) dot yor iHsI
O$e a$d too ,a$y ) t+o a$dHs too ,a$y
Ca$cel the = ) ca$cel yor =Hs
Eany abbre$iations are "lurali+ed in the regular way by adding ; s to
the singular8
bro. (brother) bros. (brothers)
dr. (doctor) drs. (doctors)
lb. ("ound) lbs. ("ounds)
,s. (manuscri"t) ,ss. (manuscri"ts)
1P. (member of "arliament) 1PHs or 1Ps (members)
PhD (doctor) PhdHs or PhDs (doctors)
Dobli$g the i$itials
The initials are doubled to signify the "lural of certain
abbre'iatio$s4
l. (line) ll. (lines)
#. ("age) ##. ("ages)
&. (following "age) &&. (following "ages)
5i$glar 3 Plral
0 few abbre'iatio$s ha$e the same form in the singular and "lural
ft. (foot) ft. (feet)
deg. (degree) deg. (degrees)
@<
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
fig. (figure) fig. (figures)
3eb. 9 3ebr (3ebrew) 3eb. 9 3ebr (3ebrews)
J. No$s +ith di&&ere$t ,ea$i$gs i$
the #lral a$d the si$glar
There are nouns which ha$e one ,ea$i$g i$ the si$glar a$d
a$other i$ the #lral8
ad'ice (counsel) ad'ices (information)
air (atmos"here) airs (demeanour)
co,#ass (range or etent) co,#asses (an instrument)
co##er (a metal) co##ers ("ennies)
&orce (strength) &orces (army)
good (benefit) goods (mo$able "ro"erty)
retr$ (coming back) retr$s (statics)
There are nouns which ha$e t+o ,ea$i$gs i$ the #lral agai$st o$e
i$ the si$glar8
color (tint) colors (kinds of colour 9 flag of regiment)
csto, (habit) csto,s (habits 9 toll or ta)
e&&ect (result) e&&ects (results 9 goods)
There are nouns which ha$e t+o ,ea$i$gs i$ the si$glar agai$st o$e i$
the #lral4
@=
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
abse (wrong use 9 re"roaches) abses (wrong uses)
&oot ("art of body 9 infantry) &eet ("arts of body)
horse (ca$alery 9 a ,uadru"ed) horses (,uadru"eds)
#eo#le (a nation9 "ersons) #eo#les (nations)
K. No$s +ith ,lti#le #lrals
Some nouns ha$e two "lurals! one used to refer to a number of things
considered indi$idually! the other to refer to a number of things collecti$ely.
%n some cases! one of the two is nowadays archaic or dialectal.
brother brothers 2rethren
cannon cannons -annon
child children childer
:
cloth cloths clothes
<
cow cows kine
=
die dice dies
>?
:
hilder has all but disa""eared! but can still be seen in hildermas (%nnocents. Day).
<
lothes refers collecti$ely to all of a household.s washable cloth articles.
=
!ine is still used in rural &nglish dialects.
>?
"ies is used as the "lural for die in the sense of a mould
B?
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
fish fish fishes
>>
iris #plant$ iris irises
>@
"enny "ennies "ence
>B
"erson "ersons "eo"le
>C
Pig "igs swine
Sow sows swine
1L. 5INGULAR
IN7ARIABLE5.ha'e o$ly a
si$glar &or,0 A5 A
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN5
Co$table 7s. U$co$table.
>>
%ish8 the "lural for one s"ecies of fish! or caught fish! is fish! but for li$e fish of many s"ecies! or in "oetic
usage! fishes is used.
>@
5or multi"le "lants! iris is used! but irises is used for multi"le blossoms.
>B
%f you ha$e se$eral (2ritish) one'"enny "ieces you ha$e se$eral pennies. &ence is used for an amount of
money! which can be made u" of a number of coins of different denominations8 one "enny and one fi$e'"enny
"iece are together worth si "ence. &enny and pennies also refer to one or more F.S. one'cent "ieces! though in
0merican usage! a nickel is worth fi$e cents! not fi$e "ence.
>C
The word people is usually treated as the su""leti$e "lural of person (one "erson! many "eo"le). 3owe$er! in
legal and other formal contets! the "lural of person is personsD furthermore! people can also be a singular noun
with its own "lural (for eam"le! /We are many "ersons! from many "eo"les/).
B>
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
Eany material things and many "henomena. 2oth natural and
"sychological are uncountable by their $ery nature.
Inly countables may be used in the singular and "lural. %n the
singular they must ha$e either an article .a-a$-the0 or a determinati$e
.each- e'ery- this- etc.0
Both co$tables a$d $co$tables ,ay be sed +ith 'ome
.'ome M co$table 3 a &e+I 'ome M $co$table 3 a certai$ a,o$t0
a$d +ith the de&i$itre article the .
The most common categories of uncountables are8 gases! fluids! food!
natural "henomena! materials(with "articles too small to count)! metals!
cereals! abstractions! fields of study! other intangibles.
TRAN5:OR1ING UNCOUNTABLE5 INTO COUNTABLE5
Some names of raw manufactured materialks do not ordinarily admit
of "lurals 8 bread! butter! coffee! cotton! flour! milk! hay! gold! sil$er!
soa"! chocolate! toast! sugar! beef! mutton! "ork! etc. because they are
uncountable. They may become countable if a word is su""lied in front
of them.
There are also other categories of uncountables 8 gases! natural
"henomena! cereals! abstractions (ideas! ideals! modes of beha$iour!
emotions! ,ualities!etc) which a""ear with certain e"ressioins when
countable8
$e+s- &r$itre- e2i#,e$t- ad'ice- i$&or,atio$- light$i$g-
th$der- +or"- cor$- lc"- 6e+elry- lggage- ,sic- s,o"e-
grass-laghter.
The e"ression that will "remodify the noun in order to make it
countable is referred to as a #artiti'e. There are three ty"es of "artiti$es to
e"ress ,uantity of mass nouns8
B@
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
>. measures 4 ( le$gth4 o &oot o& +ater- a yard o& cloth
( area4 a$ acre o& la$d- >L s2, o& roo,
( 'ol,e4 a #i$t o& beer- a gallo$ o& #etrol
( +eight4 a$ o$ce o& gold- a to$ o& coal
@. ty"ical "artiti$es ( restricted to s"ecific words)8
( a sit o& ar,or- a bloc" o& ice- a si# M
dri$"s.o& +his"y0-
a dab M color.o& red0- a bo+l M &ood.o& rice0
A s#oo$&l o&N- a ha$d&l o&N- bc"et&lN may also be
"artiti$es.
B. general "artiti$es (can be used with any uncountable noun!
e$en if this has a ty"ical "artiti$e) a #iece o&N- a bit o&N-
a$ ite, o&N(mainly with abstract nouns)
There are also general "artiti$es that e"ress 2ality8 a "i$d o&N- a
sort o&N4 a delicios sort o& bread
Partiti$es are used to refer to8 ( o$e ite,4 a loa& o& bread
( a #art o& a +hole4 a slice o& bread
( a collectio$ o& ite,s4 a #ac"et o&
biscits
3ere is a list of uncountables together with their countable "artiti$es.
:;;< and <RI6=>
a loa& ) slice o& bread a #ac"et ) #o$d
o& btter
a cbe ) bloc" o& ice a #o$d o& &lor
a bottle ) glass ) #i$t ) si# o& ,il" a bar o& chocolate
a #iece o& toast a l,# ) a #o$d
o& sgar
a #o$d o#or" ) bee& ) ,tto$ a #i$ch o& salt
BB
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
a 6oi$t) ch$" ) roast #iece o& ,eet a +hi&& o& garlic
a rasher o& baco$ a$ ear o& cor$
a bit ) bo+l ) grai$ o& rice a glass ) s#lash o&
+ater
a glass ) #i$t ) crate o& beer a si# ) #ot ) c# o&
tea ) co&&ee
6#T!R#" $.E6;?E6#
a bea, o& light a dro# o& rai$
a #&& ) +is# ) col,$ ) ribbo$ o& s,o"e a &lash o& light$i$g
a cla# ) bolt ) roll o& th$der a breath o& &resh
air
a s#ell o& +ar, ) dry +eather a gst o& +i$d
?#TERI#"0
a t&t ) blade o& grass a grai$ i& sa$d
a stri# ) #iece ) acre o& la$d a stac" o& hay
a stic" ) #iece o& chal" a ball o& stri$g
a scra# ) shett ) #iece ) #ad o& #a#er a stra$d ) loc" o&
hair
a bloc" o& co$crete a #iece o&
6e+ellery
a #iece o& lggage a bar o& soa#
a tbe o& tooth#aste a set o& ctlery
a$ article o& clothi$g a s#ec" o& dst
a #iece ) set ) site ) article o& &r$itre a stretch o& road
a #iece o& e2i#,e$t a$ o$ce o& gold )
sil'er
#50TR#3T 6;TI;60
a #iece ) a$ ite, o& $e+s a$ o$ce o& e$ergy
BC
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
a #iece ) +ord ) bit o& ad'ice a #iece ) ite, o&
i$&or,atio$
a #iece ) stro"e ) s#ell o& +or" a stro"e #iece o&
lc"
a brst ) #eal ) roar o& laghter a #iece o& ,sic
a$ attac" o& $er'es a +i$" o& slee#
a hi$t o& troble a &eat o& i$dra$ce
a$ attac" o& &e'er a &eat o& #assio$
a corse o& treat,e$t a ter, o&
i,#riso$,e$t
a state o& e,erge$cy a +ord o& abse
a$ ite, o& bsi$ess a #iece o& e'ide$ce
When countability as to ,uantity or number is to be attached to an
uncountable noun a countable word ( a "artiti$e) must be su""lied in
front of it.
B4
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
11. NOUN5 !A7ING BOT! :OR15
.COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE0
Some uncountable nouns eist in a countable $ersion with a
different meaning8
bssi$ess a bsi$ess ) bsi$esses (stores or factories)
cha$ge(coins) a cha$ge ) cha$ges (alterations)
co,#a$y($isitors) a co,#a$y ) co,#a$ies(>' business
establishments! @ ; military units)
glass a glass ) glasses (> ; rece"tacles for drinking!
@ ; mirrors! B ; eye glasses)
iro$(metal) a$ iro$ ) iro$s (household a""liances for
smoothing clothes)
la,b(meat) a la,b ) la,bs (animals)
#a#er a #a#er ) #a#ers (news"a"ers! written
com"ositions)
roo,(s"ace) a roo, ) roo,s("artitioned areas)
salt a salt ) salts(saline com"ounds)
+or" a +or" ) +or"s("ieces of literary9 musical
com"ositions)
lace(needlework) a lace ) laces(strings for lacing shoes! etc)
yoth(the ,uality) a yoth ) yoths (indi$idual young "eo"le)
abse(insult) a$ abse ) abses(misuse)
i$terest(finance) a$ i$terest ) i$terests(hobby)
beaty(,uality) a beaty ) beaties(a beautiful woman)
tal"(idle talk) a tal" ) tal"s (con$ersation)
so$d(the sound ofJ) a so$d ) so$ds(noise)
sto$e(material) a sto$e ) sto$es(indi$idual "iecces of
material)
+ood(material) +oods(a little forest)
B7
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
5or nouns referring to 1ATERIAL5 the uncountable $ersion is used
when reference is made to the material8
Glass brea"s easily.&!(
and the countable $ersion when we refer to a thing made out of the material8
9hold yo li"e a glass o& +i$eO&3(
5or nouns denoting :OOD the countable $ersion is used when we
refer to single items8
!e ate a hole chic"e$.&3(
I had a boiled egg &or brea"&ast.&3(
while the uncountable $ersion is used when they refer to substances8
9old yo li"e so,e chic"e$O&!(
ThereH s egg o$ yor tie.&!(
Some uncountables when described with an ad*ecti$e become countable8
The North 5ea #rodces oil.&!(
It #rodces a light oil.&3(
This regio$ #rodces +i$e.&!(
It #rodces a$ e*celle$t +i$e.&3(
Words for DRIN;5 are normally uncountable but in the contet of
ordering drinks they are treated as countables8
Is there so,e co&&eeO&!(
IHd li"e t+o co&&eesP&3(
Eany uncountable nouns ha$e a countable conter"art that is differebt
leically8
see a $ice little #ig&3( by Da$ish #or"&!(
cho# trees i$ the +ood&3( i,#ort Ca$adia$ ti,ber&!(
sitcase&3( lggage&!(
shirt&3( cloth&!(
$i'ersity&3( edcatio$&!(
,eado+&3( grass&!(
B:
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
18. PLURAL IN7ARIABLE5 as collecti'e $o$s
Some nouns! singular in form! are used only in a "lural sense.
These are nouns of multitude8 #oltry- 'er,i$- cattle- #eo#le- ge$try-
#olice
The #oltry are doing well.
These cattle are mine.
These 'er,i$ do much harm.
These #eo#le ha$e returned home.
These ge$try are e"ected today.
The #olice are following the thief.
1<. 5INGULAR or PLURAL CONCORD
ACCORDING TO 1EANING &or collecti'e $o$s
B<
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
0 collecti$e noun is treated as singular if the rest of the sentence
suggests that is naming a singular unit ; the 5INGULAR stresses the
$o$(#erso$al collecti'ity o& the gro#4
A good tea, $eeds a good ca#tai$.
The co,,ittee +as discssi$g the #ro#osal.
and as "lural if it suggests a collection of li$ing things ca"able of acting
se"arately( the PLURAL stresses the idea o& #erso$ i$di'idality
+ithi$ a gro#4
The tea, +ere ta"i$ a shi+er.
The co,,ittee decided to re6ect the #ro#osal by a 'ote o& &i'e
to t+o.
0 collecti$e noun may ha$e a "lural form as well and thean it
always takes the $erb in the "lural8
The t+o tea,s +ere o$ the &ield.
The co,,ittees o& e'ery school had to get together to ta"e a
'ote.
There are collecti$e nouns that grou" li$ing beings or things
together. These ha$e a restricted usage8
T!ING5
a b$ch o& gra#es a bo2et o& &lo+ers
a #ac" o& cards a crate o& beer
a stri$g o& beads a &light o& stairs
a cl,# o& trees a clster o& stars
a &leets o& ta*is a &leet o& shi#s
a b$dle o& rags
ANI1AL5
a gaggle o& geese a #lage o& locsts
B=
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
a #ride o& lio$s a colo$y o& a$ts
a s+ar, o& bees a #ac" o& +ol'es
a #ac" o& ho$ds a &loc" o& birds
a herd o& deer) cattle a herd o& ele#ha$ts
a school o& &ish a litter o& ###ies) "itte$s
PEOPLE
a #a$el o& e*#erts a tro#e o& da$cers
a sta&& o& techers a be'y o& girls
a co,#a$y o& actors a ga$g o& thie'es
a ,ob o& rioters a bord o& directors
a tribe o& INDIAN5 a cro+d o& #eo#le
a cre+ o& sailors
The rules of concord stand true also for collecti$e nouns
designating grou"s.
C?
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
CONCLUSIONS
The name of my study is KThe "lural of the noun
%n this work % tried to sol$e all the "roblems regarding the
"lural of nouns. The "a"er is di$ided in >@ cha"ters.
'n the first chapter K The regular "lural % e"lain how
nouns form the "lural in a regular way. 0s a conclusion of this
first cha"ter we can say that regular "lural is formed by adding
KS or K&S to the singular form.
The second chapter is more com"le than the first one. %6
$e tried in this "art of my study to s"eak about T3&
%HH&GF10H P1FH01.
%n this cha"ter %6 $e sol$ed the "roblems regarding to The
irregular "lural formed through mutation' nouns like mouse'
mice! woman'women(=)! The irregular "lural formed by
adding the inflection ' en(nouns like child' children)! The
irregular "lural formed by changing 'f into '$(nouns like
wolf'wol$es! elf' el$es)! The irregular "lural formed by the
+ero "lural (words that ha$e the same form in the singular and
"lural) and also about The irregular "lural as foreign "lural'
words from latin! greek! italian ! french("henomenon'
"henomena)
The third chapter is about the PLURALS OF
NUMBERS and we obser$e that "lurals of numbers differ
according to how they are used (When modified by a number!
the "lural is not inflected! that is! has no -s added' two hundred 9
When used alone the "lural is inflected8 dozens of complaints$
Some nouns ha$e no singular form( words like8
goodness, wisdom$ ; this "roblem being sol$ed in -ha"ter
number C.
When we s"eak about nouns! we must not forget the
com"ound nouns. The key regarding the "lural of com"ound
nouns has been re$ealed in -ha"ter number 48 PLURALS OF
COMPOUND NOUNS.
%n cha"ter number 7 %6$e sol$ed the "roblem of "ro"er
nouns and of name of "eo"les.( %n discussing "eo"les whose
demonym takes (,a$ or (+o,a$! there are few o"tions like
"lurali+e to (,e$ or (+o,e$ if referring to indi$iduals! and use
the root alone if referring to the whole nation8 E$glish+o,a$(
E$glish+o,e$( the E$glish0
C>
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
%n the net cha"ter! cha"ter number : %6$e s"oke about
THE PLURAL OF ABBREVIATIONS
0nother "roblem in &nglish language is about #IF#S
W%T3 D%55&H&#T E&0#%#GS %# T3& P1FH01 0#D T3&
S%#GF10H! words like good recei$e the sence of benefit. The
"lural form of word gets a final KS and recei$e the sence of
mo$able "ro"erty. Those "roblems are re$ealed in Cha#ter
$,ber J
hapter number ( is about NOUNS WITH MULTIPLE
PLURALS.
%n this case we ha$e a good e. in noun Kbrother. Ine "lural
form of these noun is Kbrothers with the usual significance. The
other one "lural form of Kbrother is Kbrethren@) with meaning
of fellow members of a religious society
%n the net cha"ter! cha"ter number >? ! %6 $e s"oke about
the SINGULAR INVARIABLES AS UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS. Ex: a #iece o& toast
-ha"ter number >> is about #IF#S 30A%#G 2IT3 5IHE
(-IF#T021& 0#D F#-IF#T021&). %n this case a good e. is
the noun Kstone
sto$e(material) a sto$e ) sto$es(indi$idual "iecces of
material)
The final cha"ter resol$e the "roblem of P1FH01
%#A0H%021&S 0S -I11&-T%A& #IF#S. Some nouns!
singular in form! are used only in a "lural sense8 KThese #eo#le
ha$e returned home.
C@
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
BIBLIOGRAP!Q
1. BRdesc- L. Alice- 1KJ=. Gra,atica Li,bii e$gle/e-
BcreSti- Ed. Ttii$Ui&icR Si E$ciclo#edicR
8. Ba$taS- A. 1KGJ. E$glish a$d Co$trasti'e 5tdies-
BcreSti- Ti#ogra&ia U$i'ersitRUii
<. Berry- Roger- 1KK<. E$glish Gides- Articles- !ar#er(
Colli$s Pblishers- Bir,i$gha,
=. Berry- Roger- Page 7- Colli$s)Cobild- 1KK<. #rticle'- The
U$i'ersity o& Bir,i$gha$
>. Broghto$- G. 1KKL. The Pe$gi$ E$glish Gra,,ar A(V
&or Ad'a$ced 5tdebts- Lo$do$- Pe$gi$ ELT
C. Crystal- Da'id- 1KKG. The Ca,bridge E$cyclo#edia o& the
E$glish La$gage- CUP
G. Cr,e- G.- 1KKC. E$glish Gra,,ar- Ne+ Qor"- Bar$es a$d
Noble
J. GRlRUea$ :Wr$oagR- G.- Co,iSel- E.- Gra,atica li,bii
e$gle/e- Ed. O,ega#ress- BcreSti
CB
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
K. Gria- George- 8LL8. A Co$cise E$glish Gra,,ar- Ed.
Gr#s-
Craio'a
1L. Des#er$- O. 1KC>. Esse$tials o& E$glish Gra,,ar. Lo$do$-
George Alle$ X
U$+i$ Ltd.
11. Leech- G. a$d 5'arti"- I. 1KK=. A Co,,$icati'e Gra,,ar
o& E$glish- Lo$do$- Lo$g,a$ !ose
18. Le'iUchi- Leo$- 1KG1. Gra,atica li,bii e$gle/e- BcreSti-
Ed. DidacaticR Si PedagogicR
1<. Le'iUchi- Leo$- 1KGL. Li,ba e$gle/R co$te,#ora$R(
1or&ologia- BcreSti- Ed. DidacaticR Si PedagogicR
1=. Le'iUchi- Leo$- 1KCJ- 1KK<. 5i$o$i,e Y$ gra,atica li,bii
e$gle/e- BcreSti- Ed. Ttii$Ui&icR
1>. 1ac1illa$- 1KKK. E$glish Dictio$ary &or Ad'a$ced
Lear$ers
1C. 1r#hy- R.- 1KK8. E$glish i$ se- ELOD
1G. Nedelc- Car,e$-. E$glish Gra,,ar- Ed. U$i'ersitaria-
Craio'a- 8LL>
1J. Pal,er :.- 1KG1. Gra,,ar- Pe$gi$ Boo"s
1K. Eir"- R.5. Gree$ba,- G. Leech- D. 5'arti" 1KGC. A
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