📘 Noun Number Mastery
📌 Index
🔢 1. Singular to Plural (Countables)
A. General Rules (s/es)
- Add -s to most nouns: Book → Books.
- Add -es to words ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -z: Box → Boxes, Match → Matches.
B. Foreign Plurals (Latin & Greek)
| Singular Ending | Plural Ending | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -um | -a | Maximum → Maxima Memorandum → Memoranda |
| -us | -i | Radius → Radii Syllabus → Syllabi |
| -ex / -ix | -ices | Index → Indices |
| -on | -a | Criterion → Criteria Phenomenon → Phenomena |
| -a | -ae | Formula → Formulae |
| -is | -es | Analysis → Analyses Synthesis → Syntheses |
C. Pluralizing Compound Nouns
| Singular Form | Plural Form (Correct) | The Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Sister-in-law | Sisters-in-law | ‘Sister’ is the person/main noun. |
| Passer-by | Passers-by | People who pass are the focus. |
| Commander-in-chief | Commanders-in-chief | ‘Commander’ is the rank/main noun. |
| Member of Parliament | Members of Parliament | ‘Member’ is the countable unit. |
🚻 1D. Gender-Specific Plurals
Type A: Profession Based
When “Man” or “Woman” defines a profession, pluralize BOTH words.
- 🔹 Man Doctor → Men Doctors
- 🔹 Woman Teacher → Women Teachers
- 🔹 Woman Pilot → Women Pilots
Type B: Character/Object Based
If used as an object of hate/love/action, pluralize ONLY SECOND word.
- 🔸 Man-eater → Man-eaters (Eaters of man)
- 🔸 Woman-hater → Woman-haters
- 🔸 Woman-lover → Woman-lovers
Note: We don’t change “man” here because the subject (eater/hater) isn’t necessarily a man; they are just “eaters of man”.
🌊 2. Plural of Uncountable Nouns
| ❌ Incorrect Usage | ✅ Correct Usage | Measuring Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Three breads | Three loaves of bread | Loaves |
| Two papers | Two sheets of paper | Sheets |
| Many informations | Many pieces of information | Pieces |
| Four soaps | Four bars of soap | Bars |
| Many works | Many pieces of work | Pieces |
💡 Study Tip: Never say “an advice” or “advices.” Always use “a piece of advice” or “some advice.”
🔄 2B. Noun Vocabs: Meaning Shifts
1. Physical Materials & Elements
| Base | Meaning | Plural Form | New Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Liquid H₂O | Waters | Sea/Ocean boundaries |
| Sand | Grains | Sands | A Desert |
| Iron | Metal | Irons | Chains / Handcuffs |
| Wood | Timber | Woods | A Forest |
| Glass | Material | Glasses | Spectacles (Eyewear) |
| Ash | Powder | Ashes | Human remains |
2. Abstract Concepts & Behavior
| Base | Meaning | Plural Form | New Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | Ache | Pains | Great struggle/efforts |
| Air | Oxygen | Airs | Arrogance / Pride |
| Manner | Method | Manners | Etiquette / Behavior |
| Advice | Counsel | Advices | Official Information |
| Work | Task | Works | Literary/Construction |
3. Social, Legal & Professional
| Base | Meaning | Plural Form | New Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom | Habit | Customs | Import/Export Tax |
| Quarter | 1/4th part | Quarters | Living place/Residence |
| Force | Strength | Forces | The Military / Army |
| Damage | Harm | Damages | Monetary Compensation |
| Return | Come back | Returns | Profit / Tax Reports |
| Paper | Material | Papers | Legal Documents |
4. Tricky Distinctions
- Brother: Brothers (Blood) vs. Brethren (Community).
- Index: Indexes (Books) vs. Indices (Math powers).
- Fish: Fish (Same species) vs. Fishes (Different varieties).
- Fruit: Fruit (Edible) vs. Fruits (Result of hard work).
- Affect vs Effect: Affect is the Verb (to influence); Effect is the Noun (the result).
👥 3. Words Always Plural
A. The “Invisible Plurals” (Plural Verb)
These nouns do not end in ‘s/es’ but are always treated as plural. They represent groups.
Police, Public, People, Peasantry, Poultry | Cavalry, Cattle, Clergy | Youth, Gentry, Vermin, Infantry, Majority, Electorate, Folk.
- ✅ Police: The police have (not has) arrived.
- ✅ Cattle: The cattle are grazing. (Never say “cattles”)
- ✅ Vermin: Vermin carry diseases.
B. The “Two-Part” Nouns (Plural Verb)
Items made of two identical parts joined together. Always plural!
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Tools | Scissors, Tongs, Pliers, Binoculars, Spectacles, Tweezers. |
| Accessories | Gloves, Socks, Shoes, Earrings, Sunglasses, AirPods. |
| Dress Items | Pants, Trousers, Jeans, Pajamas, Shorts, Leggings. |
💡 Pro Tip: The “Pair” Rule
– My pants are torn. Plural Verb
– A pair of pants is on the bed. Singular Verb
(Because ‘pair’ is now the subject!)
🏠 4. Words Always Singular
A. The “Deceptive Essentials” (Singular Verb)
These nouns end in ‘s’ but represent a single entity. They always take a singular verb.
| 📚 Subjects | Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Ethics, Statistics. |
| 🤒 Diseases | Measles, Mumps, Rickets, Shingles. |
| 🎯 Games | Billiards, Darts, Chess, Draughts. |
| 🎬 Titles | Gulliver’s Travels, The United Nations, Arabian Nights. |
⚠️ The Possession Exception
If a possessive word (my, his, the) comes before a subject, it refers to data or qualities and becomes PLURAL!
- Mathematics is easy. (The subject)
- His mathematics are weak. (His calculations)
B. The “Suffix” Rule (Singular Verb)
Nouns ending with these suffixes are usually uncountable and always singular.
| Suffix | Examples (Always Singular) |
|---|---|
| -ry | Jewellery, Poetry, Scenery, Pottery. |
| -ge | Baggage, Luggage, Knowledge, Percentage. |
| -ing | Smoking, Parking, Thinking, Clothing. |
| -hood | Childhood, Brotherhood. |
| -ness/ment | Kindness, Enjoyment, Management. |
Note: Never say “Luggages” or “Sceneries”. Incorrect: “The sceneries are nice.” Correct: “The scenery is nice.”
🍰 5. Fractions (भिन्न) & Mixed Numbers
Formula: $\frac{Numerator [Part]}{Denominator [Total]}$
| Condition | Grammar Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Numerator = 1 | Singular Denominator | 1/4 → One-fourth |
| Numerator > 1 | Plural Denominator | 3/4 → Three-fourths |
| Improper (Nr > Dr) | Plural Denominator | 5/4 → Five-fourths |
📏 Mixed Numbers & Compound Units
When a value is $1 \frac{1}{2}$, $2 \frac{1}{2}$, etc., the Noun must always be Plural because the total value is more than one.
One and a half days
One day and a half
One and half day
One and a half day
📝 10 Solved Examples for Practice
- Two-thirds of the city is in ruins. (Nr > 1 = Plural Denominator)
- She spent one and a half hours. (Value > 1 = Plural Noun)
- One-fourth of the apple was rotten. (Nr = 1 = Singular Denominator)
- We walked two miles and a half. (Alternative mixed format)
- He finished in three and three-fourths days. (Nr=3, so “fourths”)
- Three-fifths of the students are absent. (Nr=3, so “fifths”)
- It takes one and a quarter years. (Total > 1 = Plural years)
- Only one-third of the work is complete. (Nr=1 = Singular third)
- The recipe requires two and a half cups of flour. (Mixed number rule)
- They have five-sixths of the total share. (Nr=5 = Plural sixths)
💡 Summary: If the numerator is > 1, add ‘s’ to the fraction name. If the total value is > 1, add ‘s’ to the noun.
🏷️ 6. Noun Used as Adjective
| Standard Noun Form (Plural Allowed) | Hyphenated Adjective Form (Singular Only) |
|---|---|
| Five hours’ sleep | A five-hour sleep |
| Ten days’ leave | A ten-day leave |
| Two rupees | A two-rupee note |
| Five miles | A five-mile walk |
⚠️ Common Error: A five-stars hotel ➔ A five-star hotel. (Because ‘five-star’ describes the hotel).
🔢 7. Specific Units (Dozen, Thousand, etc.)
| Category | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Definite | Numeral + Unit Singular | Five thousand rupees. |
| Indefinite | Unit Plural + ‘of’ + Plural Noun | Thousands of rupees. |
📏 Units as Adjectives
When a unit modifies a noun, it stays Singular. Hyphens are often used to connect them.
- ❌ A ten miles race ➔ ✅ A ten-mile race.
- ❌ A three feet wall ➔ ✅ A three-foot wall.
🧪 Correction Lab: Solved Examples
1. She gave me two hundred rupees notes.
🔧 Correction: She gave me two-hundred-rupee notes.
Logic: “Two-hundred-rupee” describes the ‘notes’. Adjectives are never plural.
2. Thousands of people was present.
🔧 Correction: Thousands of people were present.
Logic: “Thousands of people” is an indefinite plural subject.
3. Dozen of pencils are lying on the desk.
🔧 Correction: Dozens of pencils are lying…
Logic: No numeral is present, so the unit must be plural and take ‘of’.
🥄 Arbitrary Units (-ful)
For words ending in -ful, the plural ‘s’ always goes at the very END.
Spoonful
Handful
Cupful
Spoonfuls
Handfuls
Cupfuls
💡 Exam Study Tip: Check for the articles “A” or “An”. If they appear before the unit (e.g., “A thousand”), the unit is almost always Singular!