Chapter 13 nouns the formation of plurals

CHAPTER 13. NOUNS: THE FORMATION OF PLURALS

A noun is a word used as the name of a person or a thing. In the following examples, the nouns

are underlined.

He opened the parcel.

She is a student.

The weather is warm.

A cat is sitting on the steps.

1. Proper nouns

Names of individual persons or things are referred to as proper nouns. In English, proper nouns

must begin with a capital letter. The underlined words in the following sentences are proper

nouns.

e.g. The capital of England is London.

My friend, George, is an American.

2. Countable nouns

Countable nouns are nouns which can form a plural, and which can be preceded by a, an, or a

number. In the following examples, the countable nouns are underlined.

e.g. A bus is coming.

You may need an umbrella.

Here are two books.

Twenty students are present.

3. The formation of plurals

In general, when a countable noun refers to two or more things, it must be put into the plural. In

English, the plural of most countable nouns is formed by adding s. For example:

Singular Plural

hat hats

letter letters

pencil pencils

student students

It has already been explained that a verb must agree with its subject. When the subject of a verb

is a singular noun, the verb must be in the third person singular. The third person singular is the

form of the verb used with the personal pronouns he, she, and it.

When the subject of a verb is a plural noun, the verb must be in the third person plural. The third

person plural is the form of the verb used with the personal pronoun they. In the following

examples, the verbs are printed in bold type and their subjects are underlined.

Singular Subject: The book is interesting.

Plural Subject: The books are interesting.

Singular Subject: A duck was flying overhead.

Plural Subject: Two ducks were flying overhead.

Singular Subject: One student lives here.

Plural Subject: Three students live here.

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