count nouns
Count nouns have two forms: singular and plural.
The singular form refers to one person or thing:
a book; a teacher; a wish; an idea
The plural form refers to more than one person or thing:
books; teachers; wishes; ideas
Singular count nouns
Singular count nouns cannot be used alone. They must have a determiner:
the book; that English teacher; a wish; my latest idea
or a quantifier:
some new books; a few teachers; lots of good ideas
or a numeral:
two new books; three wishes
Plural forms:
We usually add –s to make a plural noun:
book > books; school > schools; friend > friends
We add -es to nouns ending in –ss; -ch; -s; -sh; -x
class > classes; watch > watches; gas > gases; wish > wishes; box > boxes
When a noun ends in a consonant and -y we make the plural in -ies...
lady > ladies; country > countries; party > parties
…but if a noun ends in a vowel and -y we simply add -s:
boy > boys; day > days; play > plays
Some common nouns have irregular plurals:
Man > men; woman > women; child > children; foot > feet;
person > people
Plural count nouns do not have a determiner when they refer to people or things as a group:
Computers are very expensive.
Do you sell old books?
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hello.
I'm Chau. I learn a lot of new words and how to use English in my work.
I have a question about plural form of nouns end -o, we add es ??
example: tomato plural tomatoes, or potato plural form potatoes
I didn't see mentioned above grammar of plural of noun ending in -o.
team
Hello Chau!
That's a good question! However, the rules for words ending in -o are a little ocmplicated. The two examples you give, potato and tomato both end in -es, but zoo adds -s - one rule is that words with two Os, or another vowel then an O end in -s.
However, there aren't many words ending in -o in English, and a good dictionary (like our online Cambridge dictionary!) will tell you the ending you need - so don't worry about it too much!
Regards
Jeremy Bee
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi there,
Could someone please tell me if some and any is compulsory before uncountable nouns and plurals? Or can we skip it? For example:
1) I need cotton wool or I need some cotton wool?
2) I need help or I need some help?
3) Can I have some tablets please or can I have tablets please?
4) There are some chairs in the room or There are chairs in the room.
5) They're books or They're some books ( this one sounds weird with some)
6) She has money or She has some money, ( I think the meaning here is different. First one means she's rich and the second one that she has some money on her?)
7) There aren't any books on the desk or There aren't books on the desk?
8) I need syrup or I need some syrup or I need a syrup ( a = one bottle of syrup)
9) It's nice furniture or It's a nice piece of furniture?
I know it's a lot but could someone please explain this to me? I get the rules but would like to know if it is compulsory to use some, any or a piece of etc before plural and uncountable nouns?
Hi Adam,
(some new books; a few books; lots of good ideas)
These examples (books, books, ideas) have a quantifier, aren't they Plural?
Why are they mentioned in Singular count nouns section?
Please explain it to me, Thanks.
Hi,
Which one is correct: Pg. 31,32 and 33 or Pgs. 31,32 and 33
I love this site
Your website is very good for beginners. But it would be very helpful if you could add lessons for intermediate and advanced learners.
Thanks a lot.
Anthony
team
Hello Anthony,
I'm glad you like the website. We have plenty of materials for intermediate and advanced learners. Our 'Britain is Great' video series is definitely not for beginners and we have some quite difficult articles, too.
Best wishes,
Adam
The LearnEnglish Team
nice site.
very very soft learning English.