English numbers: singular and plural

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2018-03-18 09:50:54

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In our article we will talk about English numbers facing any learners of the language user. It will be a conversation not only about the numbers. It will attempt to explain the rules of forming the plural in English. The fact that these rules differ significantly from what we are accustomed to encounter in the Russian language. A begins to get confused and not correct to use certain words. To prevent this from happening, you need to carefully study this material.

Education numbers

Think in English

Let's Start with the basic, that is, with numbers. Even a small child can easily overcome this material and quickly learn to count. First of all, the reason for this is simple education. Just observe the following rules:

  • Numbers from 1 to 12 have an individual form and they need to learn by heart: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve;
  • Starting with 13 and 19 to the figure with the suffix -teen, e.g., fourteen, sixteen, etc.;
  • The numerals denoting the tens are formed by adding suffix -ty, e.g., forty, sixty, etc.;
  • Next, you also need to remember the numbers “hundred” - hundred, “a thousand" - thousand, “million” million;
  • Composite numbers are pronounced in the same way as separately: 43 - forty three.

Think in English

Plural in English

Now let's start the General introduction to the grammar of the English language and recall that, as in any other language there are two numbers of nouns: singular and plural. The only number we use in case when talking about one item, and plural form, respectively, when we need to indicate the presence of two or more items. It should be noted immediately that not only objects but also animate and abstract nouns have a plural form.

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Thus, the construction of these numbers in the English language shall be in accordance with defined rules. If we talk about the singular, there is nothing complicated: we simply take the word given in the dictionary, as it always is in its most basic form, that is, in the required number. The formation of plural forms requires attention from you. Form of words will depend on what kind of noun you are using. There are simple words, compound, complex, calculated, not calculated, etc. Each of these words forms the English numbers by the rules, and we'll talk about each of them separately.

The bulk of nouns in the formation of English we are interested in the number only needs to correctly add the ending-s. For example, a window - windows, boy - boys, dog - dogs, etc. this letter at the end of a noun means the presence of not one but several objects or persons. But when you add the end you need to remember the following:

  • If the word ends in -s, -ss, -x, a combination of two or three consonants (-ch, -sh, ght, etc.), in the formation of plurals need to add the ending-es. For example, fox - foxes.
  • If the word ends in the letter y, which stands in front of a consonant letter when adding endings need to change -y to -i and add the ending-es. For example, duty - duties.
  • If the word ends in -fe, then we need to change this letter into -v and add the ending-s. For example, life - lives.
  • Words that end in -o, in the formation of plural forms also have the ending-es. For example, tomato - tomatoes; but there are exceptions, as the words piano, photo, radio form multiple form with the ending -s (radio - radios).
  • There are some nouns that can have two plural forms, for example, scarf - scarfs (scarves).

All these points are standard rules, but there are special cases. We will consider them below.

The Word exception

Numbers English

Nouns that form the English numbers, are called “exceptions”. These words need to learn. These include such nouns as:

  • “man”- “men” (man), “woman” - “women” (woman), “child” - “children” (child), “goose” - “geese" (goose), “mouse” - “mice” (mouse), "tooth" - "teeth" (tooth). As you can see, no rules it is impossible to explain such changes, so we simply learn by heart.
  • There are Also words whose singular same as plural. This words such as: fruit, fish, deer, sheep.
  • You need to memorize the nouns that have non-unique forms, and are always used only in the plural: “scissors” scissors, "trousers" - pants and glasses, scales, clothing, etc.
  • There are other cases where words do not have plural forms. For example, “advice” the Council, “progress” progress, as well as knowledge, money, etc. usually, it is abstract words that are impossible to count, that is not quantifiable.

Composite words

the Rules of formation of numbers

The Complex is called nouns, which consist of two simple words and are written together. For example, book + mark = bookmark (bookmark). Same compound words are words that are composed of simple words and unions and are written with a hyphen. For example, father + in + law = father-in-law (stepfather). Such nouns form numbers in English language as follows:

  • Complex words to yourself always add the ending-s, e.g., bookmark - bookmarks.
  • If you are dealing with a compound word, a key information is the presence of a noun. Usually in these words the ending-s is added to the first word, for example, father-in-law - fathers-in-law. However, if in a compound word is a noun, then we put the ending-s at the end of all words, such as forget-me-not - forget-me-nots.

It Should be noted that particular difficulties in this case, English language learners does not occur.

Numbers in the English language: table

To summarize all mentioned, as well as to facilitate access to information, we have compiled a table that summarized all the highlights form the plural that have to be studied first.

the

1

Most nouns

N + s

Book - books

2

The Word ends in-s, -ss, -x, two or three consonants at the end of words -ch, -sh, ght, etc.

N + es

Boss - bosses

3

The Word ends in-y preceded by a consonant,

N y → i + es

Library.

4

The Word ends in-fe, f

N f → v + s

Shelf - shelves

5

The Word ends in-o

N + es

Hero of heroes

6

The Word exception

Man - men

Sheep - sheep

- - wages

Advice -

7

Difficult words

Schoolgirl - schoolgirls.

8

Compound words

Mother-in-law - mothers-in-law

Of Course, this is a very brief table of education numbers, but it will be a good helper to those who have carefully studied the topic and understood all its nuances. The main thing that should understand everyone who is interested in the English language is that in it there are many grammatical rules, but more exceptions to them. Therefore, in order to properly speak the language and speak correctly, you need to learn all the exceptions to the rule. Of course, once it is difficult to do, but as you study you automatically will learn to use the necessary form. And this applies not only to grammar, but the phonetics of the English language.

...

Article in other languages:

AR: https://www.tostpost.com/ar/education/8513-english-numbers-singular-and-plural.html

BE: https://www.tostpost.com/be/adukacyya/15252-angel-sk-ya-l-k-adz-nochny-mnozhny.html

DE: https://www.tostpost.com/de/bildung/15266-englische-zahl-singular-und-plural.html

ES: https://www.tostpost.com/es/la-educaci-n/15274-en-ingl-s-el-n-mero-singular-y-plural.html

HI: https://www.tostpost.com/hi/education/8520-english-numbers-singular-and-plural.html

JA: https://www.tostpost.com/ja/education/8517-english-numbers-singular-and-plural.html

KK: https://www.tostpost.com/kk/b-l-m/15254-a-ylshyn-k-n-ne-zhal-yz-zh-ne-k-pshe.html

PL: https://www.tostpost.com/pl/edukacja/15242-angielskie-liczby-pojedyncza-i-mnoga.html

PT: https://www.tostpost.com/pt/educa-o/15235-ingl-s-n-mero-singular-e-plural.html

TR: https://www.tostpost.com/tr/e-itim/15258-ngilizce-say-s-tek-ve-oklu.html

UK: https://www.tostpost.com/uk/osv-ta/15244-angl-ys-k-chisla-odnina-mnozhina.html






Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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