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Problems with Nouns
Singular or Plural????
Women?
Woman?
© 2001 by Ruth Luman
References
Womans?
Introduction
Problems with Nouns
Look at the sentences below. What’s wrong? Move your
“Bedrooms” should be
mouse over each sentenceplural
to because
see the
answer.
the
sentence says there are
The word “milks” is
three.
incorrect, because it is a
non-count noun and
cannot have an –s.
1. I have three bedroom in my house.
2. There are many milks in the refrigerator.
3. Those chair are in the wrong room.
4. There are five reds cars.
5. Some of the class are at night.
6. Your childs are beautiful.
7. Would you like a few milk?
Guideline #1
Count and Non-Count Nouns
In English, we have countable and non-countable nouns.
Some examples of countable and non-countable nouns are
below.
Countable Nouns
chair
More NonCountable
Nouns
Non-Countable Nouns
love
student
money
day
weather
song
food
computer
fruit
room
furniture
Guideline #2
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns can have singular and plural forms and
can be counted numerically. Most countable nouns can be
made plural by adding –s or –es.
book
books
3 books
box
boxes
2 boxes
Guideline #3
Non-Countable Nouns
Non-countable nouns have only one form and can’t be
counted numerically. Look at the examples below.
monies
one money
healths
two health
money
money
health
health
Guideline #4
Non-Countable Nouns
Non-countable nouns cannot take the plural –s or –es or
an article (a, an).
a furniture
furniture
furnitures
furniture
a news
news
newses
news
Guideline #5
Irregular Plural Nouns
Some nouns have an irregular plural form. Look at
the examples below.
woman
child
womans
childs
women
children
Click here to see a list of
irregular plural nouns.
Guideline #6
Noun Quantifiers
Words like, a few, a little, much, any, some, and many
are used differently depending on whether the noun in the
sentence is count or non-count.
a few
count nouns
a few bananas
a little
non-count nouns
a little flour
(Continued)
Noun Quantifiers
many
count nouns
many chairs
much
non-count nouns
much furniture
some
non-count nouns
count nouns
some furniture
some chairs
(Continued)
Noun Quantifiers
Any is used in negative sentences with count and
non-count nouns. Notice the difference in plural and
singular verbs.
any
count nouns
There aren’t any chairs.
any
non-count nouns
There isn’t any furniture.
Guideline #7
Agreement with Demonstrative Adjectives
Remember to make demonstrative adjectives (this, that,
these, those) agree with the nouns they modify.
This/That
singular
These/Those
plural
these room
these rooms
this rooms
this room
Guideline #8
Nouns and “of phrases”
A countable noun is always plural after an “of phrase” that
shows quantity. A non-count noun is always singular after an
“of phrase.”
plural
Some of the chairs are broken.
“of phrases”
singular
Some of the furniture is broken.
Click here to see a list of
common “of phrases.”
Guideline #9
Adjectives
Adjectives are never plural.
Those are beautifuls houses.
beautiful
adjective
That is an olds book.
old
adjective
Practice Exercises
Click on the links below to look at additional grammar notes
and do some practice exercises with count and non-count
nouns.

More Grammar Notes and Exercises
Practice Exercises
Now you are ready to practice what you’ve learned. Click
the link below to return to Unit D. Print and complete the
Practice Exercise on count and non-count nouns. Check your
answers with a tutor.
Editing Checklist
Look at your essay. Circle all of the nouns in your essay.
Using the guidelines you have learned in this lesson, decide
why each noun should be singular or plural. Discuss your
decisions with a tutor.
After you have checked your essay for singular/plural noun
problems, read your essay draft aloud to your tutor. As you
read it,listen to make sure there are no errors in
singular/plural nouns.