Singulars and Plurals
Singulars and Plurals :
Some nouns have two meanings in the singular but only one in the plural.
Singular :
Practice - 1.Habit(exercise of a profession)
Plural :
Practices - habits
Singular :
Light -
1.radiance
2.a lamp
Plural :
Lights
Singular :
People -
1.nation
2.men and women
Plural :
Peoples - nations
Singular :
Powder -
1. dust
2. a dose of medicine
3. fine grains like dust
Plural :
Powders - Doses of medicines
Some nouns have one meaning in the singular and two in the plural.
Singular :
Manner = (method)
Plural :
Manners 1.methods
2.right behaviour
Singular :
Colour (hue)
Plural :
Colours
1.hues
2.Flag of regiment
Singular :
Custom (habit)
Plural :
Customs
1.habits
2.duties levied on imports
Singular :
Effect (result)
Plural :
Effects
1.results
2.property
Singular :
Moral (a moral lesson)
Plural :
Morals
1.moral lessons
2.conduct
Singular :
Number (a quantity)
Plural :
Numbers
1.quantity
2.verses
Singular :
Pain (suffering)
Plural :
pains
1.sufferings
2.exertion
Singular :
Premise (Proposition)
Plural :
Premises
1.Propositions
2.Buildings
Singular :
Quarter (fourth part)
Plural :
Quarters
1.fourth parts
2.lodgings
Singular :
Spectacle (sight)
Plural :
Spectacles
1.sights
2. eye- glasses
Singular :
Letter –
1)Letter of the alphabet
2) epistle
Plural :
Letters
1.Letters of the alphabet
2.epistles
Singular :
Ground
1) Earth (Reason)
Plural :
Grounds
1.enclosed land attached to house
2.reasons
3.dregs
Some nouns have different meaning in the singular and in the plural.
Singular…… Plural
Advice : counsel…… Advice : information
Air : atmosphere…… Airs : affected manners
Good : well-being/benefit…… Goods : merchandise
Compass : range/extent…… Compasses : an instrument for drawing circles
Respect : regard…… Respects : compliments
Physic : medicine…… Physics : natural medicine
Iron : a kind of metal…… Irons : fetters
Force : strength…… Forces : troops
Figures, letters and other symbols are made plural by adding an apostrophe and s.
There are more u’s and p’s in this letter
Dot your m’s and cross your n’s
Add five 2’s and Six 3’s
Abstract nouns do not have plurals.
Joy, love, kindness, hope
When such words appear in the plural, they are used as common nouns; as,
Kindness = acts of kindness
Provocations = instances of provocation
Material nouns are also used as singular.
Wood, cotton, tin, gold, silver, copper
When these nouns are used in the plural, they become common nouns with changed meanings.
Iron : fetters
Tins : cans made of tin
Coppers : copper coins
Woods : forests
Singulars and Plurals
Moral Stories
Akbar and Birbal Stories
Singulars and Plurals To HOME PAGE
