Welcome to Singular and Plural Matching!
Hi there! Ever felt like some sentences just "sound" wrong, but you can't figure out why? A lot of the time, it's because of a simple mix-up between singular (just one) and plural (more than one).
Don't worry, it's like learning to wear matching shoes – once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature! In these notes, we'll learn how to make our subjects and verbs a perfect match, making your writing super clear and professional. Let's get started!
Part 1: The Basics of Nouns - One or Many?
First things first, let's talk about nouns. A noun is a word for a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns can be singular or plural.
Singular means there is only one. (e.g., one cat, one house, one friend)
Plural means there is more than one. (e.g., two cats, many houses, a few friends)
How to Make Most Nouns Plural
Rule 1: Just add -s
This is the most common rule. For most nouns, you just add an 's' to the end.
• cat → cats
• book → books
• table → tables
Pretty easy, right?
Rule 2: Add -es for words with "hissing" endings
If a noun ends in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh, we add -es. Think of these letters as making a "hissing" sound. The extra 'e' helps us pronounce the word properly.
• bus → buses
• box → boxes
• church → churches
• wish → wishes
Rule 3: Words ending in -y
This one has two parts, so pay close attention to the letter before the 'y'!
• If the letter before the -y is a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), just add -s.
Examples: boy → boys, toy → toys, day → days
• If the letter before the -y is a consonant (any other letter), change the -y to -ies.
Examples: baby → babies, story → stories, city → cities
Key Takeaway: Part 1
• To make most nouns plural, just add -s.
• For nouns ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, -sh, add -es.
• For nouns ending in -y, check the letter before it. Vowel + y = add -s. Consonant + y = change y to -ies.
Part 2: The Rule Breakers - Irregular Plurals
English loves to have exceptions! Some nouns don't follow the rules at all. You just have to remember these. Don't worry, you probably know a lot of them already!
Common Irregular Plurals
• Vowel Change Plurals: Some nouns change their inside vowels.
man → men
woman → women
foot → feet
tooth → teeth
mouse → mice
goose → geese
• Plurals ending in -ves: Nouns ending in -f or -fe often change to -ves.
leaf → leaves
wolf → wolves
life → lives
knife → knives
(But watch out for exceptions like roof → roofs and chef → chefs!)
• The "No Change" Crew: Some nouns are the same whether they are singular or plural.
sheep → sheep
deer → deer
fish → fish
Did you know?
You can sometimes say "fishes", but only when you are talking about different types or species of fish. For example, "The aquarium has many different fishes from around the world." But if you caught ten of the same type, you would say, "I caught ten fish."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Incorrect: The three mans went to the park.
• Correct: The three men went to the park.
• Incorrect: I saw a flock of sheeps.
• Correct: I saw a flock of sheep.
Key Takeaway: Part 2
Irregular plurals don't follow the normal rules. You need to memorize them. The most common ones involve vowel changes (man/men), changing -f to -ves (leaf/leaves), or no change at all (sheep/sheep).
Part 3: The Matching Game - Subject-Verb Agreement
Okay, now for the most important part: the "matching"! In a sentence, the subject (the noun doing the action) and the verb (the action word) must agree. This is called subject-verb agreement.
Think of it like a team: a singular player needs a singular move, and a plural team needs a plural move.
The Golden Rule of Matching
This might seem backwards at first, but you'll get it quickly!
• A singular subject takes a verb that ends in -s.
Example: The dog barks. (One dog, so the verb has an -s)
• A plural subject takes a verb that does NOT end in -s.
Example: The dogs bark. (More than one dog, so the verb has no -s)
Memory Aid: The "Single S" Trick
Here’s a simple trick: in most simple present tense sentences, the subject or the verb will have an 's', but usually not both!
• The girl runs. (Singular subject, verb has the 's')
• The girls run. (Plural subject has the 's', verb does not)
Step-by-Step Guide to Matching
When you write a sentence, ask yourself these three questions:
1. What is the subject? (Who or what is doing the action?)
2. Is the subject singular or plural? (Is it one, or more than one?)
3. Does my verb match? (Does it follow the Golden Rule?)
Example: The student ___ hard. (study/studies)
1. The subject is "student".
2. It is singular (one student).
3. A singular subject needs a verb with -s. So, the answer is studies.
The student studies hard.
Key Takeaway: Part 3
Subject-verb agreement is key! Remember the Golden Rule: Singular Subject + Verb with -s. Plural Subject + Verb without -s. Use the "Single S" trick to help you remember.
Part 4: Watch Out! Tricky Situations
Sometimes, sentences try to trick you. Here are a few common situations to look out for.
Collective Nouns
A collective noun is a word that names a group of things or people. Examples include: team, family, class, group, committee.
Rule: Most of the time, we treat a collective noun as a single unit, so it is singular.
• The team is playing well. (The team is acting as one unit).
• My family travels every summer. (The family is acting as one unit).
Encouraging thought: Don't worry if this seems complicated. 99% of the time, treating a collective noun as singular is the right choice!
Pesky Phrases in the Middle
Sometimes, a phrase comes between the subject and the verb. Don't let it fool you! The verb must agree with the true subject, not with the noun in the phrase.
Example: The box of chocolates ___ on the shelf. (is/are)
The subject is box, which is singular. The phrase "of chocolates" just describes the box. It doesn't change the subject.
Tip: Mentally cross out the phrase in the middle. "The box ... is on the shelf."
• Incorrect: The box of chocolates are on the shelf.
• Correct: The box of chocolates is on the shelf.
Quick Review Box
• Subjects and verbs MUST agree.
• Singular subjects get verbs with an -s (The cat sleeps).
• Plural subjects get verbs with no -s (The cats sleep).
• Watch out for irregular plurals (The children play).
• Ignore phrases between the subject and the verb (The list of names is long).
You've done a great job getting through these notes! Mastering singular/plural matching is all about practice. The more you read and write, the more natural it will feel. Keep up the amazing work!