What is Number in English Grammar?
Number in English grammar tells us whether a noun refers to one person/thing or more than one.
In simple words, it shows singular or plural.
Countable Nouns (गणनीय संज्ञा)
Definition (English):
Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. They have singular and plural forms.
परिभाषा (Hindi):
जिन संज्ञाओं को गिना जा सकता है, उन्हें Countable Nouns कहते हैं। इनके एकवचन और बहुवचन होते हैं।
Uncountable Nouns (अगणनीय संज्ञा)
Definition (English):
Uncountable nouns are nouns that cannot be counted individually. They usually have only one form.
परिभाषा (Hindi):
जिन संज्ञाओं को अलग-अलग गिना नहीं जा सकता, उन्हें Uncountable Nouns कहते हैं। इनके बहुवचन नहीं होते।
1. General Rule: Add –s
Most nouns form the plural by adding s.
Rule: Singular + s
Examples:
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Book – Books – I bought two books.
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Pen – Pens – The pens are on the table.
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Girl – Girls – The girls are playing.
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Dog – Dogs – Dogs are loyal animals.
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Tree – Trees – The trees are tall.
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Chair – Chairs – The chairs are broken.
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Car – Cars – Cars are parked outside.
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Boy – Boys – The boys are studying.
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Teacher – Teachers – Teachers guide students.
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Apple – Apples – Apples are healthy.
2. Nouns Ending in s, sh, ch, x, z – Add –es
Rule: Singular + es
Examples:
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Bus – Buses – Buses run on time.
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Box – Boxes – The boxes are heavy.
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Class – Classes – Classes start at nine.
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Dish – Dishes – Wash the dishes.
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Match – Matches – The matches are wet.
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Brush – Brushes – New brushes are needed.
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Fox – Foxes – Foxes are clever.
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Watch – Watches – These watches are costly.
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Quiz – Quizzes – The quizzes were difficult.
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Glass – Glasses – I wear glasses.
3. Nouns Ending in y
a) Consonant + y – y becomes i + es
Examples:
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Baby – Babies – Babies need care.
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City – Cities – Big cities are crowded.
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Lady – Ladies – The ladies arrived early.
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Story – Stories – Stories inspire us.
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Country – Countries – Countries trade globally.
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Party – Parties – Parties are fun.
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Fly – Flies – Flies spread germs.
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Army – Armies – Armies protect nations.
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Puppy – Puppies – Puppies are cute.
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Factory – Factories – Factories produce goods.
b) Vowel + y – Add –s only
Examples:
Boy – Boys, Toy – Toys, Day – Days
4. Nouns Ending in f / fe – f/fe becomes ves
Examples:
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Leaf – Leaves – Leaves fall in autumn.
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Wolf – Wolves – Wolves live in packs.
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Knife – Knives – Knives are sharp.
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Life – Lives – They saved many lives.
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Wife – Wives – Wives supported them.
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Shelf – Shelves – Shelves are full.
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Thief – Thieves – Thieves were caught.
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Loaf – Loaves – Fresh loaves are baked.
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Half – Halves – Cut it into halves.
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Calf – Calves – Calves need milk.
5. Irregular Plurals (No Fixed Rule)
Examples:
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Man – Men – Men are working.
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Woman – Women – Women lead teams.
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Child – Children – Children are learning.
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Tooth – Teeth – Teeth need care.
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Foot – Feet – Feet were tired.
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Mouse – Mice – Mice ran away.
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Goose – Geese – Geese are swimming.
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Person – People – People gathered here.
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Ox – Oxen – Oxen pull carts.
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Louse – Lice – Lice cause itching.
6. Same Form for Singular and Plural
Examples:
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Sheep – The sheep is grazing / The sheep are grazing.
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Deer – A deer crossed the road / Many deer crossed it.
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Fish – I caught a fish / I caught many fish.
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Aircraft – One aircraft landed / Two aircraft landed.
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Species – This species is rare / These species are rare.
7. Nouns Always Plural
Examples:
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Scissors – The scissors are sharp.
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Trousers – His trousers are new.
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Shorts – These shorts are cheap.
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Glasses – My glasses are broken.
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Pants – Pants are comfortable.
8. Important Exceptions (Must Remember)
- Photo – Photos (not photoes)
- Piano – Pianos
- Roof – Roofs (not rooves)
- Belief – Beliefs
- Chief – Chiefs
Sentence: The roofs of houses are damaged.
9. Words Ending with O → Add –ES (Mostly)
Many nouns ending in O form their plural by adding –es, especially short words or words used in daily life.
Rule: Singular + es
Examples:
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Potato – Potatoes – Potatoes are rich in starch.
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Tomato – Tomatoes – Tomatoes are fresh.
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Hero – Heroes – Heroes inspire people.
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Echo – Echoes – Echoes were heard.
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Mango – Mangoes – Mangoes are sweet.
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Negro – Negroes – Negroes were mentioned in history books.
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Volcano – Volcanoes – Volcanoes erupt suddenly.
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Cargo – Cargoes – Cargoes were shipped.
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Mosquito – Mosquitoes – Mosquitoes spread diseases.
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Buffalo – Buffaloes – Buffaloes are grazing.
10. Words Ending with O → Add –S (Many Exceptions)
Words ending in O that come from shortened forms, musical terms, modern usage, or foreign origin usually take –s only.
Rule: Singular + s
Examples:
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Photo – Photos – Photos look beautiful.
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Piano – Pianos – Pianos are expensive.
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Radio – Radios – Radios are playing.
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Video – Videos – Videos went viral.
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Studio – Studios – Studios are closed.
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Zoo – Zoos – Zoos protect animals.
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Solo – Solos – Guitar solos were amazing.
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Logo – Logos – Logos represent brands.
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Memo – Memos – Memos were sent.
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Auto – Autos – Autos are common here.
11. Words Ending with OO → Add –S only
All nouns ending with OO form the plural by adding –s.
Rule: Singular + s
Examples with sentences:
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Zoo – Zoos – Zoos are educational.
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Kangaroo – Kangaroos – Kangaroos jump high.
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Bamboo – Bamboos – Bamboos grow fast.
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Cuckoo – Cuckoos – Cuckoos sing loudly.
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Tattoo – Tattoos – Tattoos are popular.
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Igloo – Igloos – Igloos are made of ice.
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Shamboo – Shamboos – Shamboos are stored.
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Tycoon – Tycoons – Tycoons invest heavily.
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Taboo – Taboos – Taboos vary by culture.
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Boo – Boos – Boos came from the crowd.
11. Rule: Making Plurals of Short Forms / Abbreviations
When letters, short forms, abbreviations, or initials are made plural, we often add ’s to avoid confusion, especially in traditional or educational writing.
A. Plural of Letters (A, B, C, etc.)
Examples:
- A – A’s – Do not forget to cross your A’s.
- B – B’s – There are three B’s in this word.
- C – C’s – The report has many C’s.
- D – D’s – He scored two D’s
B. Plural of Initialisms (Capital Letters)
Examples:
- M.L.A → M.L.A’s – The M.L.A’s attended the meeting.
- M.P → M.P’s – The M.P’s raised the issue.
- S.P → S.P’s – Several S.P’s were transferred.
- C.E.O → C.E.O’s – The C.E.O’s met today.
- I.A.S → I.A.S’s – The I.A.S’s were honored.
C. Plural of Numbers, Years & Symbols (Traditional Use)
Examples:
- 1990 – 1990’s – Music of the 1990’s was popular.
- 10 – 10’s – He is in his 10’s.
- ₹ – ₹’s – Avoid mixing ₹’s in notes.
Modern Style Note:
Today, many style guides prefer 1990s (without apostrophe), but 1990’s is still accepted in exams and traditional writing.