1. NOUNS
Count nouns have two forms, singular and plural. Singular
count nouns generally take a determiner. Plural count nouns
do not need a determiner:
e.g. A plane is quicker than a train.
Planes are quicker than trains.
1. THE PLURAL OF COUNT NOUNS
1. Most nouns add -s to form the plural:
boy - boys /z/
cat - cats /s/
2. Nouns ending in -ss. -s, -se, -eh, -sh, -x
add -es /iz/:
glass -
glasses
bus -
buses
rose -
roses
3. Some nouns ending in -o add -es, others
add -s:
domino - dominoes Negro -
Negroes
echo - echoes potato - potatoes
BUT
hero - heroes tomato - tomatoes
4. a) Nouns ending in a consonant plus -y
change to -ies:
country - countries party - parties
b) Nouns ending in a vowel plus -y add -s:
boy -
boys
day -
(lays
key -
keys
5. Some nouns ending in -f or -fe substitute
-ves for -f or -fe:
calf - calves life - lives
half - halves loaf - loaves
knife - knives scarves -
scarves
leaf - leaves shelf - shelves
6 Some count nouns have irregular plurals:
child - children louse - lice
foot - feet man - men
goose - geese mouse - mice

2. 7. Some count nouns have the same form
for both singular anid plural:
e.g. His favourite was a big
white sheep.
The sheep were grazing
in the field.
aircra
ft
cross
roads
deer
dice watch – watches
dish – dishes box -
boxes
photo - photos
piano - pianos
radio - radios
story - stories
victory victories
ray - rays toy - toys
thief - thieves wife -
wives wolf - wolves
ox - oxen tooth - teeth
woman - women
shee
p
spac
ecraf
t
speci
es
fish (in
some
cases) fruit
(in some
cases)
hovercraft

3. series
8. Some count nouns are usually plural and are followed by a plural
verb. These nouns refer to single items that have two linked parts.
They are:

4. - nouns referring to clothes or other things that
people wear:
(sun) glasses knickers pyjamas slacks jeans
pants shorts spectacles tights trousers
- nouns referring to tools or other things that people
use: binoculars pincers
compasses (the drawing instrument) pliers nutcrackers
scales scissors
shears tongs
THE PLURAL OF COUNT NOUNS
1. Uncount nouns often refer to:
- substances: coal, coffee, food, ice, iron, rice,
satfc/, steel
- human qualities: courage, cruelty, honesty,
patience
-feelings: anger, happiness, hope, joy, pride, relief
respect
- activities: travel, sleep, work
- abstract ideas: beauty, freedom, fun, luck
2. Uncount nouns have only one form and take
a singular verb. They are not used with a or with
numbers:
e.g. His courage was praised by everybody.
The money is on the table.
3. Some nouns which are uncount in English have
plurals in other languages:
e.g.* We've got a lot of
luggage, but it's not heavy.
The soldiers equipment
was wet with rain.
advice homework machinery progress
baggage housework merchandise research
business information money spaghetti
equipment knowledge news strength
furniture luggage nonsense
4. Uncount nouns are not used with numbers, but
you can refer to a quantity or an item of something
by using words or expressions like some, a loaf of,
packets of, a piece of. A bit of is common in spoken
English.
e.g. Mother bought some bread and rice.
250

5. I. COUNT NOUNS
GRAMMAR COMPENDIUM
He needed some advice so I gave it to
him.
Isabel bought two loaves of bread.
The receptionist gave him a piece of
valuable information.
He confessed to having a bit of
knowledge on the matter.
5. Some uncount nouns that refer to food or
drink can be count nouns when they refer to
quantities of the food or drink:
e.g. Do you like coffee? (uncount) He
ordered two coffees, (count) Some nouns are
uncount nouns when they refer to something in
general and count nouns when they refer to a
particular instance of something:
e.g. She never gave up hope, (uncount)
Roger has high hopes his boss will
promote him by the end of the year,
(count)
6. Some uncount nouns end in -s and therefore look
like plural count nouns. They refer to:
- subjects of study: aeronautics, astronautics,
electronics, mathematics, physics,
politics
- sports events: aerobics, athletics, gymnastics
- games: billiards, cards, checkers, darts
- illnesses: diabetes, measles, mumps
e.g. Mathematics is one of the most
important sciences.
Billiards is played on a special table
with pockets.___________________________

6. NOUNS
Count nouns have two forms, singular and plural. Singular
count nouns generally take a determiner. Plural count nouns
do not need a determiner:
e.g. A plane is quicker than a train.
Planes are quicker than trains.
2. THE PLURAL OF COUNT NOUNS
6. Most nouns add -s to form the plural:
boy - boys /z/
cat - cats /s/
7. Nouns ending in -ss. -s, -se, -eh, -sh, -x
add -es /iz/:
glass -
glasses
bus -
buses
rose -
roses
8. Some nouns ending in -o add -es, others
add -s:
domino - dominoes Negro -
Negroes
echo - echoes potato - potatoes
BUT
hero - heroes tomato - tomatoes
9. a) Nouns ending in a consonant plus -y
change to -ies:
country - countries party - parties
b) Nouns ending in a vowel plus -y add -s:
boy -
boys
day -
(lays
key -
keys
10. Some nouns ending in -f or -fe substitute
-ves for -f or -fe:
calf - calves life - lives
half - halves loaf - loaves
knife - knives scarves -
scarves
leaf - leaves shelf - shelves
6 Some count nouns have irregular plurals:
child - children louse - lice
foot - feet man - men
goose - geese mouse - mice
7. Some count nouns have the same form
for both singular anid plural:
250

7. I. COUNT NOUNS
GRAMMAR COMPENDIUM
e.g. His favourite was a big
white sheep.
The sheep were grazing
in the field.
aircra
ft
cross
roads
deer
dice
watch – watches
dish – dishes box -
boxes
photo - photos
piano - pianos
radio - radios
story - stories
victory victories
ray - rays toy - toys
thief - thieves wife -
wives wolf - wolves
ox - oxen tooth - teeth
woman - women
shee
p
spac
ecraf
t
speci
es
fish (in
some
cases) fruit
(in some
cases)
hovercraft

8. series
8. Some count nouns are usually plural and are followed by a plural
verb. These nouns refer to single items that have two linked parts.
They are:
- nouns referring to clothes or
other things that people wear:
(sun) glasses knickers
pyjamas slacks jeans
pants shorts
spectacles
- nouns referring to tools or
other things that people use:
binoculars pincers
compasses (the drawing
instrument) pliers
nutcrackers
scales
tight
s
trou scis
sers sor
s
she
ars
250 ton
gs

9. series
8. Some count nouns are usually plural and are followed by a plural
verb. These nouns refer to single items that have two linked parts.
They are:
- nouns referring to clothes or
other things that people wear:
(sun) glasses knickers
pyjamas slacks jeans
pants shorts
spectacles
- nouns referring to tools or
other things that people use:
binoculars pincers
compasses (the drawing
instrument) pliers
nutcrackers
scales
tight
s
trou scis
sers sor
s
she
ars
250 ton
gs

10. series
8. Some count nouns are usually plural and are followed by a plural
verb. These nouns refer to single items that have two linked parts.
They are:
- nouns referring to clothes or
other things that people wear:
(sun) glasses knickers
pyjamas slacks jeans
pants shorts
spectacles
- nouns referring to tools or
other things that people use:
binoculars pincers
compasses (the drawing
instrument) pliers
nutcrackers
scales
tight
s
trou scis
sers sor
s
she
ars
250 ton
gs