NOUNS
- REGULAR
AND IRREGULAR PLURAL NOUNS
|
(a)
song-songs
|
 The plural of most nouns is formed by
adding a final –s. |
|
(b)
box-boxes
|
 Final –es is added to nouns
that end in –sh, -ch, -s, -z, and –x. |
|
(c)
baby-babies
|
 The plural of words that end in a
consonant + -y is spelled –ies. |
|
(d)
man-men ox-oxen tooth-teeth
woman-women foot-feet mouse-mice
child-children goose-geese louse-lice
|
The nouns in (d) have irregular
plural forms that do not end in –s.
|
|
(e)
echo-echoes potato-potatoes
hero-heroes tomato-tomatoes
|
Some nouns that end in –o add –es to form the plural.
|
|
(f)
auto-autos photo-photos studio-studios
ghetto-ghettos piano-pianos tattoo-tatoos
kangaroo-kangaroos radio-radios video-videos
kilo-kilos solo-solos zoo-zoos
memo-memos soprano-sopranos
|
Some nouns that end in –o add only –s to form the plural.
|
|
(g)
memento-mementoes/mementos volcano-volcanoes/volcanos
mosquito-mosquitoes/mosquitos zero-zeroes/zeros
tornado-tornadoes/tornados
|
Some nouns that end in –bio
add either bi or bi to form the plural (with –es being the more
usual form).
|
|
(h)
calf-calves life-lives thief-thieves
half-halves loaf-loaves wolf-wolves
knife-knives self-selves scarf-scarves/scarfs
leaf-leaves shelf-shelves
|
Some nouns that end in –f
or –fe
are changed to –ves to form the plural.
|
|
(i)
belief-beliefs cliff-cliffs
chief-chiefs roof-roofs
|
Some nouns that end in –f
simply add –s to form the plural.
|
|
(j)
one deer-two deer one
series-two series
one fish-two fish** one
sheep-two sheep
one means-two means one
shrimp-two shrimp**
one offspring-two offspring one
species-two species
|
Some nouns have the same singular
and plural form: e.g., One deer is…Two
deer are …...
|
|
(k)
criterion-criteria
phenomenon-phenomena
(l)
Cactus-cacti/cactuses
fungus-fungi
nucleus-nuclei
stimulus-stimuli
syllabus-syllabi/syllabuses
(m)
formula-formulae/formulas
vertebrata-vertebrae
(n)
appendix-appendices/appendixes
index-indices/indexes
(o)
analysis-analyses
basis-bases
crisis-crises
hypothesis-hypotheses
oasis-oases
parenthesis-parentheses
thesis-theses
(p)
bacterium-bacteria
curriculum-curricula
datum-data
medium-media
memorandum-memoranda
|
Some nouns that English has
borrowed from other languages have foreign plurals.
|
EXERCISE 1
Directions:
Write the correct
from of the nouns in the parentheses.
- I met some
interesting ___ men____ at the
meeting last night. (man)
- The baby got
two new …………………… (tooth)
- Alex saw some
…………………… running across the floor. (mouse)
- I caught
several …………………… in the lake. (fish)
- When we spoke
in the cave, we could hear …………………… of our voices. (echo)
- Thunder and
lightning are …………………… of nature. (phenomenon)
- POSSESSIVE NOUNS
|
SINGULAR
NOUNS POSSESSIVE NOUNS
(a)
The girl The girl’s
(b)
Tom Tom’s
(c)
My wife My wife’s
(d)
A lady A lady’s
(e) Thomas
Thomas’s/Thomas’s
|
To show possessions, add an
appropriate (‘) and –s to a singular noun: The girl’s book is on the table.
|
|
If a singular noun ends in –s,
there are two possible forms:
1. Add an apostrophe
and –s: Thomas’s book.
2. Add only an
apostrophe: Thomas’ book.
|
|
|
PLURAL
NOUNS POSSESSIVE
NOUNS
(f)
The girls the girls’
(g)
The wives the wives’
(h)
The ladies the ladies’
(i)
The men the men’s
(j)
My children the children’s
|
Add only an apostrophe to a plural
noun that ends in –s: the girls’ books are on the table.
Add an apostrophe and –s to plural
nouns that do not end in –s: The men’s
books are on the table.
|
EXERCISE
2
Directions:
Complete the sentences with the
positive forms of the nouns in
parentheses.
1. …………………… husband
often gives her flowers. (Mrs. Smith)
2. The …………………… hat is
red. (the boy)
3. The …………………… toys
are all over the floor. (children)
4. The …………………… toys
are in the cribs. (babies)
5. Those are my
…………………… offices. (bosses)
3. USING NOUNS AS MODIFIERS
|
The soup has vegetables in it.
(a) It is
vegetable soup.
The building has offices in it.
(b) It is an office
building.
|
When a noun is used as a modifier, it is in its
singular form.
In (a): Vegetable modifies soup.
In (b): Office modifies
soup.
|
|
The test lasted two hours.
(a) It was a two hour test.
Her son is five years old.
(b) She has a five-year old son.
|
When a noun used as a modifier is combined with a
number expression, the noun is singular and a hyphen (-) is used. INCORRECT: she has a five years old son.
|
EXERCISE 3
Directions:
Complete the
sentences with the word in parentheses. Use the singular
or
plural form as appropriate. Include hyphens (-) as necessary.
1. They sell
-----shoes ------ at the store. It is a ----- shoe ------ store.
2. My garden has
…………………… in it. It is a …………………… garden. (flower)
3. The soup is made
from black …………………… It is a black …………………… soup. (bean)
4. People can buy
special food in small jars for …………………… It is called …………………… food. (baby)
5. Dr. Adams is
trained as a psychologist for …………………… She is a
…………………… psychologist. (child)
6. In our office we
have a machine that sends and receives …………………… It is called a …………………… machine.
(fax)
4.
COUNT AND NONCOUNT
NOUNS
|
(a) I bought a chair.sam bought three
chairs.
(b) We bought some furnitures.
INCORRECT:
We bought some furnitures.
INCORRECT: We bought a furniture.
|
Chair is count noun;
chairs are items that can be counted.
Furniture is a noncount
noun. In grammar, furniture cannot be counted.
|
||
|
|
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
|
|
COUNT
NOUNS
|
a chair
one chair
|
Ǿ chairs*
Two chairs
Some chairs
A lot of chairs
Many chairs
|
A count noun:
1. May be preceded
by a/an
in the singular.
2. Takes a final –s/-es
in the plural.
|
|
NONCOUNT
NOUNS
|
Ǿ furniture*
Some furniture
A lot of furniture
Many furniture
|
|
A noncount noun:
1. Is not
immediately preceded by a/an.
2. Has no plural
form, so does not take a final –s/-es.
|
EXERCISE 3
Directions:
Look at the italicized nouns in the sentences. Write
“C” above the
count
nouns and “NC” above the noncount nouns.
1. Ann likes to wear jewelry. Today she is wearing four rings, six bracelets, and a necklace.
2. Gold and iron
are metals.
3. I used an iron to press my wrinkled shirt.
4. We saw beautiful mountains, fields, and lakes on our trips. In other words, we
saw beautiful scenery.
5. In the United States,
baseball is called the national pastime. To play it, you need a baseball and a bat.
5.
NONCOUNT NOUNS
|
a. I bought some chairs, tables, and desks. I
other words, I bought some furniture.
b. I put some sugar
in my coffee.
|
Many noncount nouns refer to ‘’whole’’
which is made up to different parts.
In (a): furniture represents a
whole group of things that is made up of similar but separate items.
In (b): sugar and coffee
represent whole masses made up of individual particles or elements.
|
|
c. I wish you luck
|
Many noncount nouns are abstractions. In
(c): luck is an abstract concept, an abstract ‘whole’. It has no
physical form; you can’t touch it. You can’t count it.
|
|
d. Sunshine is warm and
cheerful.
|
A phenomenon of nature, such as sunshine
is frequently used as noncount noun, as in (d).
|
|
e. NONCOUNT: Ann has
brown hair.
COUNT: Tom has a
hair in his jacket.
f.
NONCOUNT: I opened the curtains to let in some light.
COUNT: Don’t
forget to turn off the light before you go to bed.
|
Many nouns can be used as either noncount
or count nouns, but the meaning is different; e.g., hair in (e) and light
in (f).
(Dictionaries written especially for
learners of English as a second language are a good source of information on
count/noncount usages of nouns.)
|
|
|
|
- SOME COMMON NONCOUNT NOUNS
|
This list is a sample of nouns
that are commonly used as noncount nouns. Many other nouns can also be used
as noncount nouns.
|
|
a.
WHOLE
GROUPS MADE UP OF SIMILAR ITEMS: baggage,
clothing, equipment, food, fruit, furniture, garbage, hardware, jewelry,
junk, luggage, machinery, mail, makeup, money/cash/change, postage, scenery,
traffic, etc.
|
|
b.
FLUIDS: water, coffee, tea, milk, oil,
soup, gasoline, blood, etc.
c.
SOLIDS: ice,
bread, butter, cheese, meat, gold, iron, silver, glass, paper, wood, cotton,
wool, etc.
d.
GASES: steam, air, oxygen, nitrogen,
smoke, smog, pollution, etc.
e.
PARTICLES: rice, chalk, corn, dirt, dust,
flour, grass, hair, pepper, salt, sand, sugar, wheat, etc.
|
|
f.
ABSTRACTIONS:
-beauty,
confidence, courage, education, enjoyment, fun, happiness, health, help,
honesty, hospitality, importance, intelligence, justice, knowledge, laughter,
luck, music, patience, peace, pride, progress, recreation, significance,
sleep, truth, violence, wealth, etc.
-advice,
information, news, evidence, proof, etc.
-time,
space, energy, etc.
-homework,
work, etc.
-grammar,
slang, vocabulary, etc.
g. LANGUAGES: Arabic, Chinese, English,
Spanish, etc.
h. FIELDS OF STUDY: chemistry, engineering,
history, literature, mathematics, psychology, etc.
i.
RECREATION:
baseball, soccer, tennis, chess,
bridge, poker, etc.
j.
ACTIVITIES: driving, studying, swimming, travelling,
walking, etc. (and other gerunds)
|
|
k.
NATURAL
PHENOMENA:
weather, dew, fog,
hail, heat, humidity, lightning, rain, sleet, snow, thunder, darkness, light,
sunshine, electricity, fire, gravity, etc.
|
EXERCISE 4
Directions:
Complete the
sentences with the given nouns, adding final –s/-es if
necessary.
|
1. I like to listen to
operas, symphonies, and folk songs. I enjoy …………………
2. The street is full
of cars, trucks, and buses. It is full of …………………
3. I put some banana
peels, empty juice cartons, and broken bottles in the waste can. The can is
full of……………
4. The children got
scared when they heard ……………….. during the storm.
5. Tools that are used
for turning screws are called………………..
7. BASIC ARTICLE USAGE
|
I.
USING A or Ǿ: GENERIC NOUNS
|
|||
|
SINGULAR COUNT
NOUNS
|
a. A banana is yellow.
|
A speaker use
generic nouns to make generalizations. A generic noun represents a whole
class of things; it is not a specific, real, concrete thing, but rather a
symbol of a whole group.
In (a) and (b):
the speaker is talking about any banana, all bananas, and bananas in general.
In (c): the speaker is talking about any and all fruit, fruit in general.
Notice that no
article (Ǿ) is used to make generalizations with plural count nouns,
as in (b), and with noncount nouns as in (c).
|
|
|
PLURAL COUNT NOUNS
|
b. Ǿ Bananas are yellow.
|
||
|
NONCOUNT NOUN
|
c. Ǿ Fruit is good for you.
|
||
|
II. USING A or SOME: INDEFINITE NOUNS
|
|||
|
SINGULAR COUNT
NOUNS
|
d. I ate a banana.
|
Indefinite nouns
are actual things (not symbols), but they are not specifically identified.
In (d): the
speaker is not referring to “this banana” or “that banana” or “the banana you
gave me.” The speaker is simply saying that s/he ate one banana. The listener
does not know nor need to know which specific banana was eaten; it was simply
one banana out of that whole group of things in this world called bananas.
In (e) and (f): Some
is often used with indefinite plural count nouns and indefinite noncount
nouns. In addition to some, a speaker might use two,
a few, several, a lot of, etc. , with plural count nouns, or a
little, a lot of, etc.,
with noncount nouns.
|
|
|
PLURAL COUNT NOUNS
|
e. I ate some bananas.
|
||
|
NONCOUNT NOUN
|
f. I ate some fruit.
|
||
|
III. USING THE: DEFINITE NOUNS
|
|||
|
SINGULAR COUNT
NOUNS
|
g. Thank you for the banana.
|
A noun is
definite when both the speaker and the listener are thinking about the same
specific thing.
In (g): the
speaker uses the because the listener knows which specific banana the
speaker is talking about, i.e., that particular banana which the listener
gave to the speaker.
Notice that the
is used with both singular and plural count nouns and with noncount
nouns.
|
|
|
PLURAL COUNT NOUNS
|
h. Thank you for the bananas.
|
||
|
NONCOUNT NOUN
|
i.
Thank you for the fruit.
|
||
EXERCISE 6
Directions:
Add a/an if necessary.
Write Ǿ in the blank if the noun is noncount.
Capitalize as appropriate.
1. ……………….. bird has
wings.
2. ……………….. animal
needs a regular supply for food.
3. ……………….. food is
necessity of life.
4. ……………….. opera is a
musical play.
5. ……………….. music
consists of a series of pleasant sounds.
8. GENERAL ARTICLES FOR ARTICLE USAGE
|
a. The sun
is bright today.
Please hand this book to the
teacher.
Please open the door.
Omar is in the kitchen.
|
GUIDELINE: use the
when you know or assume that your listener is familiar with and thinking
about the same specific thing or person you talking about.
|
|
b.
Yesterday I saw some
dogs. The dogs were chasing a cat. The cat was chasing a mouse. The mouse ran into a hole. The hole was very
small.
|
GUIDELINE: use the
for the second mention of an indefinite noun. In (b): first mention = some dogs, a cat, a mouse, a hole;
second mention = the dogs, the cat, the
mouse, the hole.
|
|
c.
CORRECT: Apples are my favorite fruit.
INCORRECT: The apples
are my favorite fruit.
d.
CORRECT: Gold is a metal.
INCORRECT: The gold is a metal.
|
GUIDELINE: DO NOT use the
with a plural count noun (e.g., apples)
or a noncount noun (e.g., gold)
when you are making a generalization.
|
|
e. CORRECT:
1. I drove a
car/I drove the car.
2. I drove that
car.
3. I drove his
car.
INCORRECT: I drove car.
|
GUIDELINE: a singular
count noun (e.g., car) is always
preceded by
1.
As article (a/an or the)
2.
this/that; OR
3.
A possessive noun
|
EXERCISE
6
Directions:
In these dialogues, decide whether the
speakers would use a/an or the.
1.
A:
I have ……….. idea. Let’s go on …………. Picnic Saturday.
B: Okay.
2.
A:
Did you have fun at ………….. the picnic yesterday?
B: Sure did. And
you?
3.
A:
You’d better have ……………. Good reason for being late!
B:
I do.
4.
A:
Where’s my blue shirt?
B: It’s in …………… washing machine.
5.
A:
I wish we had …………….. washing machine.
B: So do I. it would make it a lot easier
to do our laundry.
9. EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY
|
EXPRESSIONS
OF QUANTITY
|
USED WITH COUNT NOUNS
|
USED WITH NONCOUNT NOUNS
|
An expression of
quantity may precede a noun. Some expressions of quantity are used only with count
nouns, as in (a) and (b).
|
|
a.
one
each
every
|
one apple
each apple
every apple
|
Ǿ
Ǿ
Ǿ
|
|
|
b.
two, etc.
both
a
couple of
a
few
several
many
a
number of
|
two apples
both apples
a couple of apples
a few apples
several apples
many apples
a number of apples
|
Ǿ
Ǿ
Ǿ
Ǿ
Ǿ
Ǿ
|
|
|
c.
a little
Much
A great deal of
|
Ǿ
Ǿ
Ǿ
|
A little
rice
much
rice
a great deal of
rice
|
Some are used
only with noncount nouns, as in (c).
|
|
d.
no
some/any
alot of/lots of
plenty of
most
all
|
no
apples
some/any
apples
a lot of/lots of
apples
plenty of
apples
most
apples
all
apples
|
no apples
some/any rice
a lot of/lots of rice
plenty of rice
most rice
all rice
|
Some are used
with both count and noncount nouns, as
in (d).
|
EXERCISE
9
Directions:
Write much or many.
Also write the plural form of the italicized
nouns as
necessary. In some sentences, you
will need to choose the correct verb in
parentheses.
1. I haven’t visited
…………… city in the US.
2. I haven’t gotten
………….. mail lately.
3. A: How ………….. side does a pentagon have?
B:Five.
4. There
(isn’t/aren’t) ………………… …………………….. traffic
today.
5. There
(isn’t/aren’t) ………………… …………………….. car on the road today.
10.
USING A FEW AND FEW; A LITTLE AND LITTLE
|
a
few
a
little
|
a. She has been here only two weeks,
she already has a few friends.
(Positive idea: she has made some friends.)
b. I’m very pleased. I have been able
to save a little money this month.
(Positive idea: I have saved some money instead of
spending all of it.)
|
A few and a
little give a positive idea: they indicate that something exists, is
present, as in (a) and (b).
|
|
few
little
|
c. I feel sorry for her. She has (very)
few
friends.
(Negative idea: She does not have many friends; she has
almost no friends.)
d. I have (very) little money. I
don’t even have enough money to buy food for dinner.
(Negative idea: I do not have much money; I have almost no
money.)
|
Few and little
(without a) give a negative idea; they indicate that something is
largely absent.
Very (+ few/little)
makes the negative stronger, the number/amount smaller.
|
EXERCISE 10
Directions:
Without
substantially changing the meaning of the sentence,
replace the italicized words
with a few, (very) few, a little, or (very)
little.
a
little
1. I think some
lemon juice on fish makes it look
better.
2. Some sunshine is better than none.
3. If our door
squeaks, several drops of oil in the
right pace can prevent future trouble.
4. If your door
squeaks, put some oil on the hinges.
5. I don’t watch TV
very much because there are hardly any
TV programs that I enjoy.
11.
USING OF IN EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY
|
a. CORRECT: A
lot of books are paperbacks.
b. CORRECT: A lot of my books are paperbacks.
c. INCORRECT: A lot
books are paperbacks.
|
Some expressions
of quantity (such as a lot of)
always contain of, as in (a) and (b).
|
|
|
d.
CORRECT: Many of my books are paperbacks.
e.
INCORRECT: Many my books are paperbacks.
f.
CORRECT: Many books are paperbacks.
g. INCORRECT: Many of books are paperbacks.
|
Sometimes of
is used with an expression of quantity, as in (d) and sometimes of
is NOT used with the
same expression of quantity, as in (f).
|
|
|
GROUP ONE:
EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY THAT ALWAYS CONTAINS OF
a lot of a number of a majority of
lots of a great deal of plenty of
|
||
|
GROUP TWO:
EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY THAT SOMETIMES CONTAINS OF AND SOMETIMES NOT
all (of) many (of) one (of) both (of) some (of)
most (of)
much (of) two (of) several (of) any (of)
almost all (of)
a few (of) three (of)
a little
(of) etc.
|
||
|
h.
Many of my books are in English.
i.
Many of those books are in English.
j.
Many of the books are in English.
|
Of is used with the expressions of
quantity in GROUP
TWO when the noun is
specific. A noun is specific when it is preceded by:
1. my, John’s (or any
possessive), as in (h).
2. this,
that, these, or those,
as in (i).
3. the, as in (j).
|
|
|
k.
Many books are in English.
|
Of is NOT used with the
expressions of quantity in GROUP TWO if the noun it modifies is nonspecific. In (k): the noun books
is nonspecific; i.e., the speaker is not referring to “your books” or “these
books” or “the books are on the desk.” The speaker is not referring to
specific books, but to books in general.
|
|
EXERCISE 11
Directions:
Add of
if necessary. Write Ǿ if of is not necessary.
1. I know several
……………. Jack’s friends.
2. I’ve made ………….
Friends lately.
3. Most ………….. books
have an index.
4. I bought a few
………….. books yesterday.
5. I’ve read a few
…………. Those books.
12.
ALL (OF) AND BOTH (OF)
|
a.
CORRECT: All of the students in my class are here.
b.
CORRECT: All the students in my class are here.
c.
CORRECT: All students must have an ID card.
d.
INCORRECT: All of students must have an ID card.
|
When a noun is
specific (e.g., the students),
using of after all is optional as in (a) and (b).
When a noun is
nonspecific, of DOES NOT follow all, as in (c).
|
|
e.
I know both (of) those men.
f.
CORRECT: I know both men.
g.
INCORRECT: I know both of men.
|
Similarly, using of
after both is optional when the noun is specific, as in (e).
When a noun is
nonspecific, of DOES NOT follow both, as in (f).
|
EXERCISE 12
Directions:
Of is not necessary in any of these
sentences. In the sentences in
which the use of of is optional, write (of)
in the blanks. If if is not
possible because the noun is nonspecific,
write Ǿ.
1. All (of) the
children listened to the story.
2. Both ……………. Those
books are mine.
3. I bought two books.
Both ………….. were expensive.
4. Almost all ……………
students study hard for exams.
5. Do you know
all………………. The people in your biology class?
6. All ………………. The students
in my class are studying English.
13. SINGULAR EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY: ONE, EACH, EVERY.
|
a. One student was late today.
b. Each student has a schedule.
c. Every student has a schedule.
|
One, each, and every are followed
immediately by singular count nouns
(never plural nouns, never noncount nouns).
|
|
d. One of the students was late today.
e. Each (one) of the students has a schedule.
f.
Every
one of the students
has a schedule.
|
One of, each of,
and every one of are followed by specific
plural count nouns (never singular nouns; never noncount nouns).
|
EXERCISE 13
Directions:
Complete the
sentences with the correct form, singular or plural, of
the nouns in parentheses.
1. There is only
one girl
on the sixth-grade soccer team. (girl)
2. Only one of the
……………………. In the sixth grade is in the soccer team. (girl)
3. Each of the ……………..
got a present. (child)
4. We invited every
………………. Of the club. (member)
5. Every one of the
……………. Came. (member)
6. Mr. Hoover gave a
present to each ………………. (child)
sumber :
using and Understanding English Grammar 3rd edition by betty Schrampfer Azar
digunakan dalam mata kuliah B.ing. dosen Dr. Kurnia
________________
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