The number

§5. Regular plural form

The plural is formed by means of the suffix s: a boy – boys, a box – boxes. Remember about the following spelling rules:

1. –es is added to nouns ending in s, sh, ch, x, z – glass – glasses, brush – brushes, watch – wathes, box - boxes

2. Nouns ending in o

1. –s is added to nouns if -o is preceded by a vowel or to a noun of foreign origin: cuckoo – cuckoos, radio – radios, piano – pianos, kilo – kilos, photo – photos.

2. -es is added to nouns if -o preceded by a consonant: tomato – tomatoes, hero – heroes, potato – potatoes.

3. Nouns ending in y

1. y + s if –y is preceded by a vowel: key – keys, boy – boys, day – days

2. ie + s if –y is preceded by a consonant story – stories, fly – flies, country – countries

4. Nouns ending in f, ff, fe

1. f + s in most cases: roof – roofs, cliff – cliffs, gulf – gulfs, proof – proofs, safe – safes, grief – griefs, cuff – cuffs, belief – beliefs.

2. ve + s as an exception: life – lives, leaf – leaves, wife – wives, wolf – wolves, thief – thieves, knife – knives, shelf – shelves, half – halves, calf – calves (9)

3. Nouns having both forms in the pl.:

Scarf – scarfs/ scarves, wharf – wharfs/ wharves, hoof – hoofs/ hooves, handkerchief/ handkerchieves.

5. Pronunciation tips:

[s] → [ziz]: house – houses

[Ө] → [ðz]: bath – baths, mouth – mouths, path – paths, truth – truths, youth – youths, oath – oaths.

In truths, youths both [Ө] and [ð] can be pronounced.

BUT! In most words there is no such change:

death – deaths, myth – myths, month – months, birth, births.

§6. Irregular plural form

1. Nouns having irregular plural form (vowel change):

man – men, (but! A Walkman - Walkmans) woman – women child – children

tooth – teeth foot – feet mouse – mice louse – lice

goose – geese ox – oxen brother – brethren (= members of the same society)

2. The same form for the sg and pl

a sheep – sheep, a swine – swine, a deer – deer, a cod – cod, a fish – fish, a trout – trout, a craft – craft, a counsel – counsel;

a means – means, a gas works – gas works, a series – series, a barracks – barracks, a headquarters – headquarters, a species – species, rendezvous – rendezvous, gallows - gallows.

Penny! Pennies (individual coins) She dropped 3 pennies in the slot mach.

Pence (the amount) The fare cost him 8 pence.

3. Greek and Latin borrowings keep their foreign plural forms:

agendum – agenda addendum - addenda datum - data bacterium – bacteria curriculum –curricula

basis – bases analysis – analyses crisis – crises phenomenon – phenomenon formula – formulae memorandum – memoranda.

hypothesis - hypotheses criterion – criteria stratum -strata thesis – theses

4. Singularia tantum.

• names of materials: iron, copper, coal, oil, bread, fruit, fish, spaghetti, macaroni + equipment, machinery.

• abstract notions: information, knowledge, progress, advice, luggage, generosity, curiosity, anger, foolishness, excitement, poetry, fun, sculpture.

• names of some games: billiards, dominoes, draughts, darts, bowls, cards.

• ending in –ics (names of sciences and sports): gymnastics, athletics, aerobics, physics, mathematics, phonetics, optics, ethics, politics.

!!! Sometimes they're used in the plural when not the science is meant, but individual achievements)!

Politics is a dirty business (= the science in general).

His politics are right wing (= political views).

Note! summons (pl: summonses) + watch (pl: watches)

5. Pluralia tantum.

• articles of dress consisting of 2 parts: trousers, shorts, pyjamas, braces, pants, trunks, drawers, ;

• tools and instruments consisting of 2 parts: scissors, shears, tongs, pincers, pliers, tweezers, scales, spectacles/glasses, goggles, binoculars, fetters, handcuffs;

• miscellaneous words: premises, wages, riches, oats, credentials, goods, contents (don’t mix with content), thanks, soap-suds, whereabouts, dregs, clothes, troops, bowels, surroundings, savings, belongings, goings-on, winnings, home-comings, proceedings, congratulations, earnings, particulars, outskirts, hangings, proceeds, stairs, foundations, lodgings, looks, goods.

• 4 words of exception: police, cattle, poultry, people, staff.