七年级英语上册Plural Nouns.docVIP

Plural Nouns1. Plurals of individual nouns　　Number indicates whether you are talking about one or more than one person, place or thing. If you are referring to only one, the noun is in the singular number. If you are referring to more than one, the noun is in the plural number. 　　The plural forms of most nouns are made by adding -s to the singular forms. But if the singular ends with -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh, th e plural is made by adding -es. Singular Plural Singular Plural paper papers lunch lunches taxi taxis dress dresses idea ideas quiz quizzes menu menus brush brushes game games box boxes 　　Words that end with -o are different. If such vowels as -a, -e, -i, -o, and -u come just before the -o, only -s is added: studios. If a consonant comes just before -o, usually only -s is added. But in some words, -es is added. You should memorize these common -es words: cargoes mosquitoes potatoes torpedoes echoes mottoes tomatoes vetoes heroes Negroes tornadoes volcanoes 　　Words that end with -y form the plural in two ways. Generally, the -y is changed to -i and -es is added. country--countries 　　company--companies 　　army--armies 　　But proper names are exceptions, e.g. Henry--Henrys 　　　　Mary--Marys 　　If a noun ends in -y preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed simply by adding -s, e.g. boy--boys 　　　　　　key--keys 　　The plural of noun ending with -f or -fe is formed, sometimes by adding -s, sometimes by changing -f or -fe to -ves. For this there is no all purpose rule. leaf leaves chief chiefs half halves gulf gulfs life lives proof proofs self selves roof roofs wife wives safe safes 　　Still we should pay attention to the following points:a. A few nouns form the plural by change of a letter or letters in the middle of the word: tooth--teeth　　　　woman--women　　goose--geesefoot--feet 　　　　 mouse--mice 　　louse--lice b. A few nouns have the same form in both numbers, e.g. deer　　sheep　　yoke　　means　　Chinese　li　　jin　　yuan c. Nam