What Is Number In English Grammar? | And How To Change It?

What Is Number In English Grammar?

Hello readers, in this new lesson in English grammar today, we will learn what is number in English grammar, and the types of numbers and also see how to change from singular to plural number and from plural number to singular number. So let's start with the definitions and types of numbers.

What Is Number In Grammar?

Numbers are a grammatical division. In English, the two number divisions are singular and plural. These two categories relate to nouns, pronouns, determinants, and verbs. In other words, a noun, a pronoun, a determinant, or a verb can be described as singular or plural.

How Many Types Of Number Are There?

Generally, the number is of two types:

1. Singular Number
2. Plural Number

What Is A Singular Number?

The word "singular" refers to a quantity. "Singular" contrasts with the plural, meaning more than one.

For example: pen, table, aunt, father, goose, Book, Brother, Cow, Tree, etc.

What Is A Plural Number?

The word "plural" refers to more than one quantity. "Plural" contrasts with the singular, which refers to only one.

For example: pens, tables, aunts, fathers, geese, Books, Brothers, Cows, Trees, etc.

How To Change Number?

There are many rules for changing numbers from singular to plural. As follows they-

Rule 1:
"S" is usually used at the end of a singular noun to make it plural.

Example:

Singular Plural

• Pencil - Pencils
• Cow - Cows
• House - Houses
• Dog - Dogs
• Mobile - Mobiles

Rule 2:
Finally, if s, sh, ch, x and z, "es" should be used.

Examples:

Singular Plural

• Bus - Buses
• Dish - Dishes
• Branch - Branches
• Fox - Foxes
• Fez - Fezes
• Glass - Glasses
• Bush - Bushes
• Tax - Taxes
• Topaz - Topazes

 Rule 3:
Although ch is pronounced like "k", only "s" is added at the end.

Example:

Singular Plural

• Monarch - Monarchs
• Patriarch - Patriarchs
• Matriarch - Matriarchs
• Stomach - Stomachs
• Hierarch - Hierarchs

Rule 4:
"v" replaces "f or fe" and then adds an "es" to end it.

Example:

Singular Plural

• Thief - Thieves
• Wife - Wives
• Knife - Knives
• Wolf - Wolves
• Leaf - Leaves
• Live - Lives

Rule 5:
To make some words plural, you have to change the middle tone of the word.

Example:

Singular Plural

• Man - Men
• Woman - Women
• Foot - Feet
• Mouse - Mice
• Tooth - Teeth

Rule 6:
No need to add en, ren and end for something.

Example:

Singular Plural

• Ox - Oxen
• Child - Children
• Brother - Brethren (brothers also correct)
• Cow - Kine (cows also correct)
• Sister - Sistren (sisters also correct)

Rule 7:
Add "s" to when there’s a "full" at the finished.

Example:

Singular Plural

• Handful - Handfuls
• Mouthful - Mouthfuls
• Spoonful - Spoonfuls
• Armful - Armfuls
• Cupful - Cupfuls

Rule 8:
Also, in the end, just adding "s" makes for a little something.

Example:

Singular Plural

• Book-shelf - Book-shelves
• Book-case - Book-cases
• Spoonful - Spoonfuls
• Armchair - Armchairs
• Handful - Handfuls
• Major-general - Major-generals
• Poet-laurete - Poet-lauretes
• Forget-me-not - Forget-me-nots

Rule 9:
Some nouns are not always singular but used as plural numbers.

Example:

• Mumps
• Scissors
• Trousers
• Spectacles
• Assets
• Furniture
• Scenery
• Issue
• Bread
• Expenditure

Rule 10:
Although some nouns seem to be singular, they are actually plural.

Example:

• Government
• Peasantry
• People
• Cattle
• Mankind
• Poultry
• Vermin
• Gentry
• Majority

Rule 11:
Similarly, some nouns seem to be plural even though they are singular.

Example:

• Physics
• Politics
• Ethics
• News
• Wages
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Economics

Rule 12:
Again, some have the same singular and plural forms.

Example:

• Deer
• Sheep
• Species
• Corps
• Canon
• Dozen
• Gross
• Pair

Rule 13:
There is no set rule for changing the number of pronouns. It's all about memorization.

Singular Plural

• I - We
• Him/her - Them
• My Our
• Your - Your
• Mine - Ours
• This - These
• Me - Us
• That - Those
• You - You
• It - They
• He/she - They
• His/her - Their

Rules 14:
Some notable words' (derived from foreign languages) plural forms:

 Singular Plural

• Axis - Axes
• Basis - Bases
• Radius - Radii
• Oasis - Oases
• Genus - Genera
• Forum - Forums
• Focus - Focuses
• Crisis - Crises
• Medium - Media
• Agendum - Agenda
• Analysis - Analyses
• Curriculum - Curricula
• Formula - Formulas