The Plural of Nouns

THE PLURAL OF NOUNS

Most nouns form the plural by adding -s or -es.

Examples

Singular	Plural
boat	boats
hat	hats
house	houses
river	rivers

A noun ending in -y preceded by a consonant makes the plural with -ies.

Examples

Singular	Plural
a fly	flies
a nappy	nappies
a poppy	poppies
a lady	ladies
a baby	babies

There are some irregular formations for noun plurals. Some of the most common ones are listed below.

Examples of irregular plurals

Singular	Plural
woman	women
man	men
child	children
tooth	teeth
foot	feet

Nouns ending in -f or - fe add - ves in their plural forms

leaf / leaves

wife  / wives 

knife / knives 

half  / halves

loaf  / loaves    

but,

some nouns ending in -f, add only an -s to make their plural forms:

chief  -  chiefs

chef   -  chefs

roof  -  roofs

proof  -  proofs

belief - beliefs

        handkerchief - handkerchiefs

cliff - cliffs

Uncountable Nouns = Non-Count Nouns : English nouns that require a singular verb:

information

luggage [ baggage-AE],

news,

money,

knowledge,

furniture,

advice,

evidence[dovezi],

billiards,

soap,

gold,

mail, e-mail,

silver,

coal,

rice,

bread,

homework,

soup,

measles,

mumps,

beer,

pork,

ink,

butter,

wax,

poetry,

smoking ,

music,

anger,

love,

hatred,

pity,

mercy,

relief,

suspicion,

experience,

work,

help,

courage,

desire,

coffee,

tea,

paper,

wood,

sand,

juice,

jam,

sugar,

stone,

cream,

dust,

gin,

glass,

ice,

oil,

The following nouns require a singular verb form:

Phonetics, Acoustics, Statistics, Mathematics, Electronics, Philosophy, History, the new[ noul], the beautiful [ frumosul], the sublime, the good, the evil, the infinite, the fantastic, the grotesque, progress, traffic, behaviour, weather, work, etc news - The news is on at 6.30 p.m. athletics - Athletics is good for young people. linguistics - Linguistics is the study of language. darts - Darts is a popular game in England. billiards - Billiards is played all over the world. Some nouns are both countable and uncountable in English, depending on their use in the sentence: Hair – hairs [ fire de par] Work – works [lucrari] Paper- papers [ = newspapers] Time – times[ori] Light – lights[becuri, surse de lumina] Noise – a noise Room [ spatiu] – room [ camera] E.g. I don`t have much hair.  There are two hairs in my coffee. Close the curtains: There`s too much light.  There are two lights in my bedroom. I thought I heard a noise. There`s too much noise and I can`t work. Have you got some paper? I`d like to draw something. Have you bought the today`s newspaper? Is there room for me to sit here? Our house has four rooms. Have you got time for a coffee? We had a great time at the party. I have no money. I need work. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare`s greatest works. Note: Drinks [ coffee, water, orange juice] are usually uncountable. But if we are thinking of a cup or a glass, we can say [in a restaurant, for example]: Two teas and one coffee, please. That news doesn`t make me happy. Bad news doesn`t make me happy. Less money does not mean lack of happiness. There was little evidence against him. The upper nouns can be counted if a quantifier is used: a piece of, an item of, a fit of [ fever], a bit of, a word / a piece of [ advice], a bowl of, a plate of, a glass of, a bottle of,,, Examples: A piece of : news / furniture / bread / chocolate / bacon An An item of : furniture / news / infinformation An article / item of furniture A word of abuse / advice A bit / piece of luck A piece of advice / evidence / research A loaf of / a piece of bread A cup of coffee A slice / a piece of cake A piece / sheet of paper A bar of chocolate / soap A piece / stick of chalk A piece / strip of land A bit / blade of grass An item / A bit of business A fit of passion An attack of fever e.g. I`ve got two pieces of good information. Some nouns have a plural form and take a plural verb. Examples: trousers - My trousers are too tight. jeans - Her jeans are black. glasses - Those glasses are his. others include: savings [ economii ], thanks, steps, stairs, customs [ vama; obiceiuri ], congratulations, tropics, wages, spectacles, outskirts [ periferie ], goods, wits EXERCISE Choose the correct answer: Here is the latest news.  … about the elections. a) They are b) It is c) There are There is too … furniture in my room. a) much b) many c) few I can see three … working on the site. a) mans b) men c) man The police … caught the burglars. a) has b) was c) have My family … made up of 5 persons. a) are b) were c) is The programme includes visiting several … a) cities b) citys c)cityes All … strive to be happy. a) people b) peoples c)peopleses What do they need two ... for? a) pianoes b) pianoses c) pianos We did hope there wouldn’t be any ………. in the forest. a) wolfs b) wolves c) wolfes ... aren’t always considered the most pleasant persons. a) Mother-in-laws b) Mothers-in-laws c) Mothers-in-law She’s got the most beautiful … I’ve ever seen. a) tooths b) teeths c) teeth They have lots of animal species on their farm, including ……. a) oxen b) oxes c) oxs He promised to finish both ………. by the end of the year. a) thesis b) theses c) thesises The … live mainly in China. a) Chineses b) Chinesis c) Chinese Cattle ... domestic animals. a) are b) is c) was Please give me another …of paper. a) slice b) item c)sheet Dominoes … very entertaining to play. a) are b) are being c) is Waiter, two ... , please! a) coffees b) cups of coffee c) cups of coffees Where ……… my jeans? a) are b) it is c) is Can you lend me that …? a) scissors b) scissor c) pair of scissors I can’t find my glasses. Have you seen …? a) it b) him c) them He was blamed for his bad … a) manners b) manneres c) manner The young ……. very energetic. a) are b) is c) has been … is an interesting school subject. a) Mathematic b) Mathematices c) Mathematics In this river you can find several … a) fish b) fishes c) fishs We need to settle a few definite … to select the best candidate for the job. a) criterion b) criterions c) criteria He gave her a bunch of … on Valentine’s Day. a) forgets-me-not b) forget-me-nots c) forgets-me-nots These clothes were in fashion in the ... a) 1940s b) 1940 c) 1940s’ How many …have you got lately? a) informations b) information c) pieces of information Could you give me a / an…of      chocolate, please? a) item b) bar c) lump Look! There’s a …of fish swimming among the stones! a) shoal b) flock c) crowd Although she looks nice, I don’t like her … a) way b) ways c) waies Here is your change: 3 pounds and 5 ... a) pennies b) pence c) pences They have dug through several ……….. of soil. a) strata b) stratum c) stratus Being his elder brother, he thought of giving him ………… advice. a) a b) an c) some

Quotations

IF YOU CAN TRANSLATE FOR YOURSELF ALL THESE QUOTATIONS AND, MOST OF ALL, YOU CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND THE LINES, THEN YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT WAY IN YOUR LIFE.

PRIDE IS A SPIRITUAL DISEASE. IT EATS UP THE VERY POSSIBILITY OF LOVING AND BEING LOVED AND MAKE YOU LOSE YOUR COMMON SENSE !

Indefinite Articles, Explanations and Exercise

INDEFINITE ARTICLES A / An

A

The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with consonant sounds. 

Articolul nehotarat A se foloseste cu substantivele numarabile care incep cu o consoana.

Atentie ! Este vorba de pronuntie - se refera la substantivele a caror pronuntie incepe cu o consoana. 
Important este sunetul si nu felul in care este scris cuvantul respectiv.

Exista substantive sau alt tip de cuvinte [ adjective, de exemplu ] care incep cu o consoana dar se pronunta fara consoana initiala:

ex. an honorable man - H nu se pronunta, motiv pentru care se foloseste articolul nehotarat AN

an hour - H nu se pronunta, de aceea se foloseste articolul nehotarat AN

If there is an adjective or an adverb-adjective combination before the noun, A(AN) should agree with the first sound in the adjective or the adverb-adjective combination.

Examples:

He is an excellent singer / He is a singer.

She wrote an essay / She wrote a long essay.

She is an excellent dentist / She is a dentist.

Use AN before words such as "hour" which sound like they start with a vowel even if the first letter is a consonant.

Also use AN before letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a vowel, such as "F", "L", "M",,, or "8".

Remember, it is the sound not the spelling which is important.

Examples:

I only have an hour for lunch. 

Does his name begin with an "F"? 

AN

The article AN is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with vowel sounds.
Examples:

She is an actress.

He didn't get an invitation.

I saw an eagle at the zoo.

Note: You cannot use A / AN with plural nouns
Use A before words such as "European" or "university" which sound like they start with a consonant even if the first letter is a vowel. 

Also use A before letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as "U", "J", "1" or "9".
Remember, it is the sound not the spelling which is important.
For example, "1" is spelled O-N-E; however, it is pronounced "won" like it starts with a "W".
Examples:

She is a European citizen.

That number is a "1". 

In English, some nouns are uncountable such as: information, news, knowledge, water, sugar, air, advice, money, etc.

We do not use A(AN) with these uncountable nouns.  

If we want to count them, there are quantifiers to be used:
ex. a piece of information
      a word of advice
      a bag of money
     an item of furniture

REMEMBER !

A – with consonant voiced nouns

AN – with vowel voiced nouns

 EXERCISE:

Add a / an to the following:

Hour, heir, heiress, hospitable man, hospital, usual thing, union, uniform, unit, UFO, Unidentified Flying Object, European citizen, university, X-ray, egg, ice-cream, education, unicorn, year, ear, yard, yellow wall, L, W, X

Police Academy Exam; Vocabulary Exercise

POLICE VOCABULARY EXERCISE

Choose the correct answer:

1) Police officers carefully observed and secured the __________________.

investigation    
all points bulletin      
crime scene

2) Unfortunately, the police were unable to gather enough evidence during their

__________________.

investigation   
the scene of the crime                    
investigate

3) The police sent out an __________________ to notify the police force of the details of the crime  and criminal. At last, the criminal was arrested on San Miguel Street.

police dog     
all points bulletin       
handcuffs

4) Hugo attended the __________________ in this city then he joined the police force.

patrol car       chief constable      Police Academy

5) __________________ protect the safety of motorists and pedestrians. They can arrest you for drunk driving.

Interpol          
Traffic police              
Policeman

6) The criminal resisted being taken into the __________________.

Police College       
flak jacket             
squad car

7) A police officer grabbed a criminal and put __________________ on him.

handcuffs                  
crime scene          
flak vest

8) This __________________ is trained in searching buildings, baggage and vehicles.

police dog      
search warrant          
policemen

9) The Royal Canadian __________________ has twenty horses in its possession.

Mounted Police   Plainclothes     Police Custody

10) Three football hooligans were remanded in __________________ yesterday evening.

handcuffs          
Interpol              
police custody

11) __________________ policemen wear civilian clothes when on duty.

Patrol car       
Investigate           
Plain-clothes

12) A dangerous criminal wanted by __________________ managed to escape from the city.

Interpol   
all points bulletin      
Police Academy

13) On Friday night, a young man was __________________ on charges of possession of cocaine.

arrested           
investigation              
arrest

14) He was taken to the __________________ for questioning because he was suspected of committing a crime.

investigate         
police dog              
police station

15) Christopher was surprised when he was suddenly stopped and arrested by two

__________________ in Spain.

traffic police     
Mounted Police      
policemen

16) A __________________ is the head of the police force in a county.

plainclothes    
chief constable       
police custody

17) This officer was shot during a mission. Fortunately, a __________________ saved his life.

police dogs         
police station         
flak jacket

18) With a __________________, police officers may search a flat without its owner's consent.

chief constable           
arrest         
search warrant

19) Ally is a __________________ . She currently works in the Crime Prevention Unit.

policeman       
policewoman         
policewomen

20) Police __________________ a double murder in the village ten years ago.

investigated         
investigation            
arrest

If Clauses, Exercise 5

             

If I -------------------------  a compass, I would give it to you.

didn`t have                           
have 
had                      

hadn`t had

If he hadn’t been ill, he  ---------------------------the marathon.

would have ran                       

would run                     

would have run               

would ran

If you go to Ireland, you ---------------------------a raincoat.

need                 

will need                   

needs                     

won`t needed

We ------------------------  the train if we had got up earlier.

didn`t miss            

wouldn`t miss                      

missed                 

wouldn`t have missed

If we lived in the country, the kids ------------------------------ outside all day long.

played                        

would played                        

would play                     

play

If they -------------------------- that much, they wouldn’t have got a stomach ache.

didn`t eat                 

hadn`t eaten                   

had eaten                              

ate

I will not be able to write you if you ------------------------me your address.

give                         

gave                         

don`t give                     

given

If I lived in Australia, I will be a sheep farmer.

If I lived in Australia, I will have been a sheep farmer.

If I lived in Australia, I were a sheep farmer.

If I lived in Australia, I would be a sheep farmer.

If the sun shone, everybody would be happy.

If the sun shines, everybody would be happy.

If the sun had shone, everybody would be happy.

If the sun is shinning, everybody would be happy.

If I were you, I will accept this job.

If I was you, I accept this job.

If I were you, I would accepted this job.

Were I you, I would accept this job.

The teacher wouldn`t give us a map if we didn`t have one.

The teacher would gave us a map if we didn`t have one.

The teacher would give us a map if we didn`t have one.

The teacher wouldn`t have given us a map if we didn`t have one.

If a begger asked you for money, would you have gave him any?

If a begger asked you for money, would you give him any?

If a begger asks you for money, would you have given him any?

If a begger asked you for money, would you have given him any?

1. If I were a bird, I...

a. will fly and see many places.

b. would fly and see many places.

c. can fly and see many places.

2. If I were a computer,...

a. I will be very stupid.

b. I am very stupid.

c. I would be very stupid.

3. If there were no police officers,...

a. there would be so much crime in the streets.

b. there will be so much crime in the streets.

c. there won't be so much crime in the streets.

4. People would spend more time at home, if

a. there were no restaurants.

b. there are no restaurants.

c. there will be no restaurants.

5. If you saw a thief stealing,...

a. what would you do?

b. what are you do?

c. what are you doing?

6. If you were a colour,...

a. what colour will you be?

b. what colour would you be ?

c. what colour are you ?

7. If you were given 1 million dollars,...

a. what will you do?

b. what are you doing?

c. what would you do ?

Put the verbs in brackets into their correct forms:

I would have read the letter if I ------------------------------ (KNOW) it was from you.

If Tony doesn't help in the garden I -------------------------- (NOT FINISH) my work in  time.

If you ------------------------------------(NOT TELL ) me about Maxwell’s birthday I would forget it.

We -------------------------------------  (CATCH) the train earlier if  Mary had found her purse.

If Susan ----------------------------------(LEARN) the poem she would have known the answer.

If it ------------------------------(BE) too hot we  will stop and get a cold drink.

If it -------------------------------(NOT RAIN) today I will stay at home.

If the Professor spoke clearly we ---------------(UNDERSTAND) him better.

If you go on talking like that we -------------------- (THROW) you out.

If Sasha  -----------------------------(GO) home now he would meet his own brother.

Test 4

                  

Choose the correct answer.

1. Could I / talk / to talk / talking / to you for a minute?

2. He  / has been working/ was working / worked / has worked / here for five years now.

3. Rome / did not built / was not built / has not been built in a day.

4. Who is the woman / into / in / on / the picture?

5. How / many / much / much of / sugar do you take in your tea?

6. Before he went to England he / read / had read / has read / tons of guide books.

7. I was looking for my hat but I couldn't find it / anywhere / somewhere / everywhere.

8. I can't / remember / remind / having remembered /the last song they were playing.

9. I used to / getting up / get up / getting / early in the morning.

10. He is so / such a nice man.

11. He said that he / has told / had said / had told / her the news the day before.

12. Because of her behaviour she now has / less / lesser /fewer / friends than before.

13. I am used  / to working hard / to work hard / working hard.

14. My parents had their sitting room / painted /  paint / painting.

15. You should ask her / polite / politely / politey.

16. He spent five years / on prison / in prison / at prison.

17. This book contains lots of information / informations on Charles Dickens.