EnglishTopVN introduces details about nouns such as definition of nouns, singular and plural nouns, the role of nouns in sentences, types of nouns, how to change from singular nouns to plural nouns and how to use them. Use the genitive with nouns.
➢ Nouns in English can be classified into the following categories:
Singular Nouns & Plural Nouns
Countable Nouns & Uncountable Nouns
➢ So what are the differences between these types and how do they affect the grammar of a sentence? Let's find out below!
✅ Summary:
➢ Unlike Vietnamese, nouns in English have two different forms: singular and plural.
➢ If we talk about quantities of 2 or more, we must use plural nouns.
Cases of plural nouns:
➢ In Vietnamese, nouns never change in number:
He has one apple.
I have two apple.
=> The noun "apple" is always "apple", whether the quantity is 1 apple or 2 apples.
➢ English, on the other hand, makes a distinction between singular numbers and plural numbers:
+ If the quantity is 1 then we obligatory must use noun in singular form:
+ If the quantity is 2 or more then we obligatory must use noun in plural form:
➢ However, for most nouns in English, the singular and plural forms are quite similar. Most plural forms can be easily deduced from the singular form, for example:
Case 1: Add -s or -es into singular nouns
For most nouns in English, we simply add the ending -s or -es After a singular noun, there will be a plural noun.
➢ So when to add -s, when to add -es? Let's look at the following summary of cases:
Singular noun | Plural noun |
---|---|
Most nouns | More-s:
|
Most nouns end in -ch, -s, -sh, -x, -z |
More-es:
However, if the word -ch pronounced /k/ then add-s:
Some plural cases do not add-es:
|
Nouns ending in letters -y |
If before -y is a consonant, changing letters -y wall -i, then add -es:
If before -y is a vowel, add -s Normal:
|
Nouns ending in letter -o |
Most nouns end in -o all add -s:
A few add more -es:
|
Most nouns end in letters -f or -fe |
Change letters -f wall -v then add -es:
Some exceptions:
|
Case 2: The plural form changes irregularly
➢ There are some nouns in English that do not form their plural by adding -s or -es.
It may sound a bit complicated, but because these are common nouns, you will see them over and over again, and soon you will remember these special plural nouns !
➢ Here are some common nouns:
➢ In addition, English words originating from other languages can have two plural forms: the added form -s/-es and the plural form borrowed from the original language:
➢ We can remember these nouns no matter how much we learn them. There is no need to learn all such nouns at once, because it will be difficult to remember and very confusing!
Case 3: The plural form does not change compared to the singular form
➢ Besides, there are some nouns that have identical singular and plural forms. Interestingly enough, these words are often nouns referring to animals:
In addition, there are also some other words that fall into this case:
➢ Singular Nouns & Plural Nouns affect grammar in two ways:
➢ The last point is extremely important in English grammar. Below is a table summarizing how to conjugate verbs according to singular and plural nouns:
Singular verb | Plural verbs | |
---|---|---|
Verb to be in present tenses | is | are |
Verb to be in past tenses | was | were |
Verb to have in present tenses | has | have |
Verbs often differ in present tenses | (add -s or -es) For example: works, washes |
(prototype) For example: work, wash |
Modal verbs (like will, can, may,...) | (prototype) For example: will, can, may |
(prototype) For example: will, can, may |
✅ Summary:
➢ There are some special cases to note to avoid confusion:
Special case 1: Nouns that only have a plural form, not a singular form
➢ In English there are some nouns that only have a plural form and no singular form, because they are often things that have two similar parts.
Here are some typical examples:
➢ In addition, we also have some other nouns that only have plural forms such as:
Special case 2: Nouns that end in -s but are singular nouns
➢ Avoid confusing the following nouns as plural. Here are some typical examples:
✅ Summary:
Uncountable nouns are nouns that cannot be counted in quantities of 1, 2, or 3 but can only be measured through another unit.
For example:
water = water (uncountable noun)
a glass of water = a glass of water (measured through the unit of a glass)
➢ Uncountable nouns have the following grammatical features:
Singular verb |
|
---|---|
Verb to be in present tenses |
is |
Verb to be in past tenses |
was |
Verb to have in present tenses |
has |
Verbs often differ in present tenses |
(add -s or -es) For example: works, washes |
Modal verbs (eg will, can, may,...) |
(prototype) Examples: will, can, may |