ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I
 ABSTRACT
The English number system constitutes a two-term contrast singular,
which denotes 'one', and plural, which denotes 'more than one'. Plural
formation is a sub-category of noun formation, which is, in tune, a sub-
field of word formation (Bauer, 1983). All are branches of lexical
morphology. The word morphology consists of two word- elements:
morph, which means ‘form and – ology, which means ‘the study of’.
(Mathews, 1972). Morphology has two main branches: inflectional
morphology and derivational morphology. Inflectional morphology is a
study of how words change their form in indicate number, person, tense,
etc. Plural formation is an indication of number, which is divided into two
parts in English: singular and plural.

The present study discusses plural categories in English and the process
of plural formation in English. The present study is made up of four
sections:

The First Section: sheds the light on such concepts as: the problem, the
aim, the limits, the value and the procedures of the study.

The Second Section: studies the notion of plurality and its types.

The Third Section: surveys the foreign plural and the main types of
foreign plurals that are used in present-day English.

The Fourth Section: which is considered as the back material of the

study. It reveals the conclusion that the writer has reached as well as
including the main references that writer has depended on completing this
task.

II
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Subject Page
ACKNOWLEDGMENT I
ABSTRACT II
TABLE OF CONTENTS III
SECTION ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Problem of the Study 1
1.2 Aims of the Study 1
1.3 Limits of the Study 1
1.4 Value of the Study 1
1.5 Procedure of the Study 1
SECTION TWO
REGULAR AND IRREGULAR PLURAL
Introduction 2
2. Plural categories 2
2.1 Regular Plural Nouns in English 2
2.2Formation of Regular Plural Nouns 3-5
2.3 The pronunciation of the regular plural 5-6
2.4 Irregular Plural Nouns in English 6-7
2.4 Types of Irregular Plural 8
2.4.1 Voicing and -s Plural 8
2.4.2 Mutation 8
2.4.3 The -' En ' Plural 9
2.4.4 Zero Plural 10-13
2.5 Compounds 14
2.6 Nouns with no plural forms 15

Subject Page
SECTION THREE
FOREIGN PLURAL
Introduction 16
3.1 Nouns of Latin Origin 16-17
3.2 Nouns of Greek Origin 17-18
3.3 Nouns of French Origin 18
3.4 Nouns of Italian Origin 18
III
3.5 Nouns of Hebrew Origin 18
SECTION FOUR
CONCLUSION
4.1 Conclusion 19
Bibliography 20-21

IV