Chapter: 01. Grandfather’s House
Word Wonder: Mastering Singular and Plural Nouns for Self-Learning
Understanding singular and plural nouns is a fundamental step in building strong English grammar skills. A singular noun refers to just one person, place, thing, or idea (like ‘cat’ or ‘house’). A plural noun refers to more than one (like ‘cats’ or ‘houses’).
Here’s how to change singular nouns into their plural forms, with tips for self-learning:
The Basic Rule: Just Add -s Most nouns simply become plural by adding an ‘-s’ at the end. Self-Learning Tip: When you learn a new noun, immediately think about its plural form. Say it aloud! (e.g., ‘pen’ -> ‘pens’, ‘grandparent’ -> ‘grandparents’). Nouns Ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, or -z: Add -es If a noun ends with these sounds, adding just an ‘-s’ would make it hard to pronounce. So, we add ‘-es’. Self-Learning Tip: Practice saying these words both in singular and plural to feel why the ‘-es’ is necessary for clear pronunciation. (e.g., ‘watch’ -> ‘watches’, ‘box’ -> ‘boxes’, ‘glass’ -> ‘glasses’). If there’s a consonant before the -y: Change the ‘-y’ to ‘-ies’. (e.g., ‘puppy’ -> ‘puppies’, ‘fly’ -> ‘flies’). If there’s a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) before the -y: Just add ‘-s’. (e.g., ‘ray’ -> ‘rays’, ‘toy’ -> ‘toys’). Self-Learning Tip: Always check the letter before the ‘-y’. This is the key to knowing which rule to apply. Nouns Ending in -f or -fe: Often, change -f or -fe to -ves: This is a common rule. (e.g., ‘leaf’ -> ‘leaves’, ‘life’ -> ‘lives’). Sometimes, just add -s: Some words ending in ‘-f’ just take an ‘-s’. (e.g., ‘roof’ -> ‘roofs’, ‘chief’ -> ‘chiefs’). Self-Learning Tip: This rule can be tricky! When in doubt, it’s good to look up the plural form of words ending in ‘-f’ or ‘-fe’. Over time, you’ll start to recognize the patterns. (Note: Some words like ‘hoof’ can have both ‘hoofs’ and ‘hooves’!) Often, add -es: (e.g., ‘echo’ -> ‘echoes’, ‘potato’ -> ‘potatoes’). Sometimes, just add -s: Especially for musical terms or words that are shortened. (e.g., ‘piano’ -> ‘pianos’, ‘photo’ -> ‘photos’). Self-Learning Tip: Similar to the ‘-f/-fe’ rule, practice and exposure will help you remember which words take ‘-es’ and which take ‘-s’. Some words change completely (e.g., ‘man’ -> ‘men’, ‘mouse’ -> ‘mice’). Some words stay the same in both singular and plural (e.g., ‘deer’ -> ‘deer’, ‘sheep’ -> ‘sheep’). Some words are always plural (e.g., ‘trousers’, ‘scissors’). Self-Learning Tip: These just need to be memorized, as they don’t follow typical patterns. Create flashcards for them! By understanding these rules and practicing regularly, you’ll become much more confident in using singular and plural nouns correctly.
Rewrite these sentences by changing the highlighted singular words to their plural forms.
The nurse looked after the sick person. The nurse looked after the sick persons. The gardener picked up the dry leaf. The gardener picked up the dry leaves. The thief broke into the house. The thieves broke into the houses. The sheep ran down the field. The sheep ran down the fields. The farmer caught the rat. The farmers caught the rats. 
Word Wonder - Textbook