Use of Singular Nouns in the Sentence

In forming sentences, singular nouns follow certain rules when it comes to a subject-verb
agreement. Singular nouns take the singular form of the verb.

Examples:

Incorrect: The boy jump over the fence because of the dog.

Correct: The boy jumps over the fence because of the dog.

Incorrect: She sell seashells in the market.

Correct: She sells seashells in the market.

Articles
We use articles (a, an, and the) to indicate that the noun is singular. You cannot use
INDEFINITE articles with plural nouns in English.

Examples:

 An apple // - apples
 A country // - countries
 The doctor // the doctors

Incorrect: My sister keeps doll and dollhouse in her cabinet.

Correct: My sister keeps a doll and a dollhouse in her cabinet.

Incorrect: I bought an apples yesterday because I was craving it.

Correct: I bought apples yesterday because I was craving it.

Abstract nouns
Abstracts nouns are nouns that can be felt, seen, touched, smell, and taste. And, these nouns are
singular all throughout; they have no plural form.

Examples:

 Love
 Happiness
 Peace
 Joy
 Sadness
Incorrect: Many types of loves are there in the world but my favorite type is a mother’s love.

Correct: Many types of love are there in the world but my favorite type is a mother’s love.

What are Plural nouns in English?

Plural nouns pertain to two or more things, idea, places, names, and animals. The appearance of
a plural noun usually ends with -s or -es. Some may have different spelling from its singular
counterpart. Plural nouns in English that end with -s or -es is called regular nouns. While nouns
that take different spelling or there is no change in spelling are called irregular plural nouns.

Plural Noun Rules

There are many plural noun rules, and because we use nouns so frequently when writing, it’s
important to know all of them! The correct spelling of plurals usually depends on what letter
the singular noun ends in.

Most of the plural nouns in English takes the regular form. In order to make regular nouns
plural, add -s to the end of the noun.

Examples:

PLURAL NOUNS IN ENGLISH

 cat – cats
 pencil- pencils
 house – houses

She bought two bags yesterday at the mall.

The doctors and nurses gather around because of the medical mission they are planning to
have.

Nouns in English that end with -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add -es to the end to the end of the
word to make it plural.

 grass – grasses
 bus – buses
 crush – crushes
 lunch – lunches
 tax – taxes

Where do you keep the glasses?

Please put the boxes inside the cabinet so that they will not block there way.
In some cases, singular nouns ending in -s or -z, require that you double the -s or -z prior to
adding the -es for pluralization.

 fez –fezzes
 gas –gasses

The nouns that end with -f or -fe, change the -f to -ve and add -s to form the plural form.

 wife – wives
 calf– calves
 wolf – wolves
 knife-knives

The thieves were caught because of the CCTV footage.

The bakery down the street sells amazing loaves of bread and cakes,

Exemptions:

There are exceptions for the above rule. These words are the following:

 roof – roofs
 belief – beliefs
 chef – chefs
 chief – chiefs

The roofs of our neighbors are dirty because my brother throws trash on it.

The chefs have incredible menus, therefore, the customers are lining up.

Singular nouns that end with –y preceded by a consonant (b,c,d,f,g,….z), change –y to –I and add
–es to create a plural form.

 city – cities
 baby – babies

The nearby cities are bustling with tourist because of the festivals.

Babies are cute creatures not until they cry because it will really test your patience.

Singular nouns that end with –y preceded by a vowel, simply add an -s to make it plural.

 ray – rays
 boy – boys

The boys are trying to reach the field fast because they will have a game.
Toys that are not suitable for kids should be wiped from the market in order to avoid bigger
problems.

If the singular noun ends in -o, add -es to make it plural.

 potato – potatoes
 tomato – tomatoes

The red tomatoes are delicious for kinds of pasta however buy it fresh.

Potatoes are one of the most versatile root crops because it can be used as a dessert or a main
course.

Exceptions:

 photo – photos
 piano – pianos
 halo – halos

The photographer shoots amazing photos so he deserves an exhibit.

I want to learn how to play different kinds of pianos because I think I’m good at it.

Foreign language
There are some nouns that are borrowed from a foreign language(s). Moreover, they are still
considered as nouns in English. They take 2 forms of pluralization and both of these rules are
acceptable. Here are the following

If the singular noun ends in -us, the plural ending is frequently -i.

 cactus – cacti/cactuses
 focus – foci/focuses

If the singular noun ends in -is, the plural ending is -es.

 analysis – analyses
 ellipsis – ellipses

The students passed their theses on time in conclusion the graduation was moved earlier.

If the singular noun ends in -on, the plural ending is -a.

 phenomenon – phenomena
 criterion – criteria/criterions

There are inevitable phenomena around us so we should always be prepared.

The teachers set different criteria for the contest consequently none of it are valid and reliable.

Some nouns don’t change at all when they’re pluralized.

 sheep – sheep
 series – series
 species – species
 deer –deer

The shepherd feeds the sheep regularly consequently the sheep grow healthy.

Scientists have a certain species of bird that they love to learn as a result they will be going to the
Amazon to observe them.

Plural Noun Rules for Irregular Nouns

Irregular nouns follow no specific rules, so it’s best to memorize these or look up the proper
pluralization in the dictionary.

 child – children  woman – women  mouse – mice

 goose – geese  tooth – teeth  person – people
 man – men  foot – feet
My teeth are yellowish consequently it’s time to visit my dentist.

There are mice running in the attic, as a result, my dad bought a cat and let it roam there.

There are nouns that have no singular form; they always come in pairs and in plural form. If
These are the following:

Examples:

 jeans
 scissors
 tongs
 shoes
 slippers

I have so many jeans in my closet so I decided to sell some of them.

He sees that it is impractical to buy an expensive pair of slippers so he settles for the cheapest
ones.

Above all, if you refer to one part of the pair, you may use modifiers.

Examples:

 Incorrect: I only have one jeans in the closet.

 Correct: I only have one pair of jeans in the closet.
 Incorrect: She lost her one slipper.
 Correct: She lost her half part of her slippers.