Noun: Number | Definition, Types, and 50+ Examples

In English grammar, nouns can be categorized based on number, which refers to whether a noun is singular (referring to one) or plural (referring to more than one). The way a noun is presented or written changes depending on its number.

Here’s a basic explanation of singular and plural nouns:

Singular Noun:
- A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea.
- Example: cat, book, house, friend
Plural Noun:
- A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
- The formation of plurals varies, but it often involves adding “-s” or “-es” to the singular form.
- Examples:
  - cats (plural of cat)
  - books (plural of book)
  - houses (plural of house)
  - friends (plural of friend)

It’s important to note that there are irregular plurals in English that don’t follow the typical “-s” or “-es” pattern. For instance:

child (singular) → children (plural)
mouse (singular) → mice (plural)

The singular and plural forms of nouns are essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences and ensuring agreement with other elements in a sentence, such as Verbs and Pronouns.

Table of Contents

Definition of Noun: Number

The Noun: Number refers to the grammatical category of a noun that indicates whether it is singular or plural. This distinction reflects the quantity of the noun being referred to.

In simple words, “Noun: Number refers to whether a noun is singular or plural.”

Singular Number: Singular means one. Example: book, child, dog, cat, boy, apple.
Plural Number: Plural means more than one. Example: books, children, dogs, cats, boys, apples.

It shows how many people, things, or animals the noun is talking about.

In some languages, nouns may also have other number categories, such as dual (for exactly two items) or collective (for a group considered as a single unit). The number of a noun often determines the form it takes and may affect agreement with verbs, adjectives, or other parts of speech in a sentence.

Singular Noun

A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. It represents a single entity. Singular nouns are the basic form of nouns and are used when you are talking about one item.

Examples of singular nouns include:

Person:
- man, woman, child, friend
Place:
- city, park, school, restaurant
Thing:
- car, book, computer, table
Idea:
- love, happiness, idea, concept

In sentences:

“The dog is barking.”
“She bought a new car.”
“The sun is shining brightly.”

These examples illustrate the use of singular nouns to represent individual items or concepts.

Plural Noun

A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. It is the form of a noun used when you are talking about two or more items.

The formation of plural nouns in English generally involves adding an “-s” or “-es” to the singular form, but there are some irregular plurals that don’t follow this pattern.

Examples of plural nouns include:

Persons:
- men, women, children, friends
Places:
- cities, parks, schools, restaurants
Things:
- cars, books, computers, tables
Ideas:
- loves, happiness, ideas, concepts

In sentences:

“The dogs are barking.”
“We bought new cars.”
“The friends gathered for a party.”

These examples illustrate the use of plural nouns to represent multiple items or concepts. It’s important to note that the formation of plurals may vary, and irregular plurals may have different patterns. For instance, “child” becomes “children,” and “mouse” becomes “mice.”

Regular Noun vs Irregular Noun

Regular nouns and Irregular nouns differ in how they form their plural forms in English.

Regular Nouns

Follow a common pattern for forming plurals by adding “-s” or “-es” to the singular form.
The majority of nouns fall into this category.
Examples:
- Singular: cat, dog, book
- Plural: cats, dogs, books

Irregular Nouns

Do not follow the standard pattern for forming plurals.
Often have unique or irregular ways of forming their plural forms.
Examples:
- Singular: child, person, mouse
- Plural: children, people, mice

Here are a few common rules for forming (change) plurals of regular and irregular nouns:

Regular Nouns:

Add “-s” to form the plural for most nouns.
- Example: car → cars, house → houses
Add “-es” to nouns ending in sibilant sounds (s, x, z, ch, sh).
- Example: box → boxes, watch → watches

Irregular Nouns:

Change the vowel sound or add an internal change.
- Example: man → men, woman → women
Keep the same form for both singular and plural.
- Example: deer (singular and plural), sheep (singular and plural)

It’s important to memorize irregular plurals as they don’t follow a consistent pattern. Understanding the distinction between regular and irregular nouns is crucial for correct grammar and language usage.

Rules to forming plural nouns

Forming plurals in English generally follows specific rules, though there are exceptions and irregularities. Here are some common rules for forming plural nouns:

Add “-s” to Most Nouns:
- Example: cat → cats, book → books
Add “-es” to Nouns Ending in Sibilant Sounds (s, x, z, ch, sh):
- Example: box → boxes, watch → watches
Add “-es” to Nouns Ending in “-o” preceded by a Consonant:
- Example: potato → potatoes, tomato → tomatoes
Add “-s” to Nouns Ending in “-o” preceded by a Vowel:
- Example: radio → radios, video → videos
Change the “-y” to “-ies” if Preceded by a Consonant:
- Example: city → cities, baby → babies
Add “-s” to Nouns Ending in “-y” preceded by a Vowel:
- Example: toy → toys, boy → boys
Change “-f” or “-fe” to “-ves”:
- Example: leaf → leaves, knife → knives
Irregular Plurals (No Change):
- Example: deer (singular and plural), sheep (singular and plural)
Change “-us” to “-i”:
- Example: cactus → cacti, focus → foci
Change “-is” to “-es”:
- Example: thesis → theses, analysis → analyses
Change “-on” to “-a”:
- Example: phenomenon → phenomena, criterion → criteria
Change “-um” to “-a”:
- Example: datum → data, curriculum → curricula
Change “-ix” to “-ices”:
- Example: matrix → matrices, index → indices
Change “-us” to “-era”:
- Example: virus → viruses, genus → genera
Change “-o” to “-oes” for Some Greek Words:
- Example: hero → heroes, zero → zeroes
Change Vowel + “y” to Vowel + “ys” (for Proper Nouns):
- Example: Mary → Marys, toy → toys
Change Consonant + “y” to Consonant + “ies” (for Proper Nouns):
- Example: Kennedy → Kennedies, city → cities
Change “-man” to “-men”:
- Example: man → men, woman → women
Change “-child” to “-children”:
- Example: child → children, grandchild → grandchildren
Change “-ox” to “-oxen”:
- Example: ox → oxen, box → boxen (archaic)
Change “-fez” to “-fazen”:
- Example: fez → fazen (rare and archaic)
Some Nouns Have the Same Form in Singular and Plural:
- Example: deer (singular and plural), fish (singular and plural)
For Latin Loanwords Ending in “-um,” Change to “-a” or “-ums”:
- Example: datum → data, curriculum → curricula or curriculums
For Nouns Ending in “-man,” Use “-men” or “-mans”:
- Example: fireman → firemen, chairman → chairmans
For Words Ending in “-s,” “-x,” or “-z,” Use “-es” or No Change:
- Example: lens → lenses, gas → gases or gas (no change)

Remember that irregular nouns and exceptions exist, and some plurals do not follow these rules. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with common irregular plurals and learn them individually. Additionally, English has borrowed words from various languages, and these may have unique plural forms. Regular exposure and practice will help reinforce the rules for forming plural nouns.

Common Errors with Number:

Incorrect	Correct
The sceneries of Kashmir are charming.	The scenery of Kashmir is charming.
He gave me many abuses.	He gave me much abuse.
I have many works to do.	I have much work to do.
Please accept my thank.	Please accept my thanks.
Mathematics are a difficult subject.	Mathematics is a difficult subject.
Politics are a dirty game.	Politics is a dirty game.
He gave me many informations.	He gave me much information. or He gave me many pieces of information.
This scissor is blunt.	These scissors are blunt.
Cattles are grazing.	Cattle are grazing.
I bought many furnitures.	I bought much furniture. or I bought many articles of furniture.
We have read many poetries.	We have read many poems.
My shoe is black.	My shoes are black.
There are five M.A. in our school.	There are five M.A.’s in our school.
He has just finished his meals.	He has just finished his meal.
He has no male issues.	He has no male issue.
Geeta is good at study.	Geeta is good at studies.
I bought four dozens pens.	I bought four dozen pens.
You are a man of words.	You are a man of word.
This house is built of stones.	This house is built of stone.
Accept my thank, please.	Accept my thanks, please.

Countable Nouns vs Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns and uncountable nouns are two categories of nouns that differ in terms of their countability and how they are quantified in English.

Countable Nouns

Countable Nouns
- Definition: Countable nouns are individual items or units that can be counted as discrete entities. They have both singular and plural forms.
- Examples:
  - Singular: cat, book, chair, person
  - Plural: cats, books, chairs, people
- Use:
  - Countable nouns can be used with numbers (one cat, three books) and quantifiers (some, many, a few).

Uncountable Nouns (Mass Nouns)

Uncountable Nouns (Mass Nouns):
- Definition: Uncountable nouns, also known as mass nouns, represent substances, concepts, or things that are treated as a whole and cannot be easily counted individually. They typically do not have a plural form.
- Examples:
  - water, rice, information, happiness
- Use:
  - Uncountable nouns are not used with numbers in the same way as countable nouns. Instead, they are often quantified using words like some, much, a little.

Key Differences between Countable Nouns and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns can be counted as individual units, and they have both singular and plural forms. Uncountable nouns, on the other hand, represent a mass or abstract concept and usually do not have a plural form.
Countable nouns can be used with numbers and quantifiers, making it easy to express quantity. Uncountable nouns are often quantified using general expressions of quantity.
Examples of countable nouns include apples, cars, and books. Examples of uncountable nouns include water, air, and information.
Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable depending on their context. For example, “wine” can be uncountable (I like wine) or countable (She ordered two wines).

The distinction between countable and uncountable nouns is important for correct grammar usage and expression of quantity in English.

English – KnowledgeSthali