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1 Theory Nouns
1 Theory Nouns
1) Variable nouns
They have one form for the singular and another form for the plural. Most
English nouns build their plural form by adding the inflection –s to the singular,
and, thus, are included in the category of regular plurals.
e.g. friend – friends, day – days, eye – eyes
Nouns which do not follow the general rule and achieve the singular – plural
contrast by other means belong to the class of irregular plurals:
a) –ves plurals
Several English nouns ending in –f(e), pronounced [f], have their plural in –
ves, pronounced [vz]:
e.g. calf – calves, half – halves, knife – knives, leaf – leaves, life – lives, loaf
– loaves, shelf – shelves
c) –en plurals
Other survivals from the past are three nouns which take –en in the plural:
e.g. child – children
d) Identical singular and plural forms (“zero plurals”)
There are nouns which have the same form in the singular and in the plural.
e.g. This sheep is very old./ These sheep are grown primarily for wool.
NOTE
1. Inflection –s is preceded by an apostrophe when we build the plural of
letters, and, sometimes, of dates and abbreviations:
e.g. He wrote “imitate” with two m’s.
I really love the music of the 1980’s. (also: 1980s)
Can a company have two CEO’s? (also: CEOs)
2. In forming the plural of the compound nouns, several situations can
be identified:
• inflection –s is generally added to the final element, especially in
noun/ gerund + noun combinations (e.g. washing machines,
girlfriends, frying pans), or when no noun is present (e.g. grown-
ups, take-offs)
• inflection –s is added to the first element in noun + adverb
combinations (e.g. runners-up, goings-out), in compounds made
up of two nouns linked by a preposition (e.g. editors-in-chief,
men-of-war, mothers-in-law), or in noun + adjective
combinations (e.g. courts-martial, attorneys general)
Exceptions: In American English, some of these compounds are
often used with the plural ending –s added to the last element (e.g.
mother-in-laws, court-martials, attorney generals)
• both elements are made plural in compounds which contain man
or woman as gender markers (e.g. men drivers, women students)
Exceptions: man-eaters, woman-haters
2)Invariable nouns