As we know, countable nouns refer to objects that can be counted as individual units. They can be represented in both singular and plural forms and can be preceded by an article (a, an, the) or a number (1, 2, 3, …).
Note that countable nouns can be either concrete or abstract.
Examples:
- Singular: a book, a cat, table, etc.
- Plural: 7 books, books, cats, tables, etc.
It is worth noting that not every singular countable noun can be converted to a plural countable noun by simply adding -s at the end. There are several rules to form plural countable nouns. Following are the rules for the plural formation of countable nouns:
Rule 1: Most countable nouns can be made plural by simply adding -s at the end.
Examples:
- book -> books
- car -> cars
- chair -> chairs
Rule 2: When a singular countable noun ends in ‘-s’, ‘-ss’, ‘-sh’, ‘-ch’, ‘-x’, or ‘-z’, the plural is formed by adding ‘-es’ to the singular form
Examples:
- bus -> buses
- glass -> glasses
- ash -> ashes
- bush -> bushes
Rule 3: If a singular countable noun ends in “-y” preceded by a consonant, the plural is formed by changing the “-y” to “-ies.”
Examples:
- city -> cities
- baby -> babies
- story -> stories
- duty -> duties
Rule 4: If a singular countable noun ends in “-y” preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed by adding “-s” to the singular form.
Examples:
- toy -> toys
- day -> days
- boy -> boys
- key -> keys
- monkey -> monkeys
- journey -> journeys
- delay -> delays
- prayer -> prayers
- survey -> surveys
Rule 5: some countable nouns have irregular forms, meaning they do not follow the typical rules mentioned above. These plurals need to be memorized.
Examples:
- child -> children
- tooth -> teeth
- mouse -> mice
- man -> men
- foot -> feet
- leaf -> leaves
- die -> dice
- person -> people
- fish -> fish (singular and plural forms are same)
- sheep -> sheep (singular and plural forms are same)
- deer -> deer (singular and plural forms are same)
- moose -> moose (singular and plural forms are same)
- Which of the following plural forms is formed correctly according to the rules mentioned?
- Select the correct plural form of the noun ‘knife’.
- Which of the following nouns does not follow the general rule for forming plural countable nouns?
- Which of the following nouns does not have a different plural form?
- What is the plural form of the noun ‘box’?
- Select the correct plural form of the noun ‘piano’.
According to rule number 2, when a singular countable noun ends in ‘-sh’, the plural is formed by adding ‘-es’ to the singular form. Therefore, the correct plural form of ‘bush’ is ‘bushes’.
The word ‘knife’ is an irregular noun, and its plural form is ‘knives’.
The word ‘mouse’ follows an irregular plural form. The plural of ‘mouse’ is ‘mice’.
The word ‘fish’ remains the same in both singular and plural forms.
The noun ‘box’ follows Rule 2, where the plural is formed by adding ’-es’ to the singular form.
The noun ‘piano’ follows Rule 1, where the plural is formed by adding ‘-s’ to the singular form.
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