Number & its Types



What is Number in English Grammar?

In English grammar, number means the counting of some thing or some object. If we are to express that we have only one boy, then we say “We have a boy.”, and when we want to express that we have more than one boy, we say “We have two boys or three boys.” Observe the above-mentioned sentences carefully, you will find that when expressing a single person, an ‘S’ is not added to the word, which is added to the same in case of more than one. This is called number in English grammar, the counting of some object. 

Types of Number with Examples 

Unlike the Arabic language which has three numbers, singular, dual and plural, the English language has only two types of number. They are as follows: 

1. Singular number 
2. Plural number 

1. Singular number refers to singularity or oneness of some object. It is expressive of the fact that the object is one, and not more than one. 

Examples:
Boy, Girl, Woman, Man, Knife, Wife, Son, Daughter, Father, Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Grandfather, etc. 

2. Plural number shows that the object is more than one. It is indicative of plurality. 

Examples:
Boys, Girls, Women, Men, Knives, Wives, Sons, Daughters, Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, etc. 

Note:- Closely observing the words given above in the examples of singular and plural can make you aware of the fact that in English grammar a single pattern or a single rule is not followed to transform a word from singular to plural, but rather different rules are followed to pluralise a word (To make a word plural). Now, out of necessity, you are required to learn the rules that govern pluralisation (making a word plural). The rules regarding the making of words plural are, therefore, given below with example sentences.

Rules for Changing Singular Number to Plural number 

Rule 1. Generally, All words except for those words which fall under the rules given in rule 2 to rule 8 take an ‘s’ only when pluralised (made plural) 

Examples:
Girl →Girls 
Bird → Birds 
Finger → Fingers 
Mobile → Mobiles 
Laptop → Laptops 

Rule 2. If a word ends in s, ss, sh, ch, x, or z, then ‘es’ is used to make plural. 

Examples:
Bus → Buses 
Grass → Grasses 
Dish → Dishes 
Branch → Branches
Fox → Foxes 
Quiz → Quizzes

Rule 3. Words ending in f, fe take ‘ves’ in place of it. 

Examples:
Wife → Wives 
Knife → Knives
Wolf → Wolves
Life → Lives 
Self → Selves 

Rule 4. Words having ‘man’ are pluralised by changing the middle vowel.

Examples:
Man → Men 
Woman → Women 
Watchman → Watchmen
Chairman → Chairmen 
 
Rule 5. Words having ‘y’ at the end and a vowel before that ‘y’ are pluralised by adding ‘s’. 

Examples:
Boy→ Boys 
Toy→ Toys 
Monkey → Monkeys
Donkey → Donkeys 

Rule 6. Words having ‘y’ 
at the end and a consonant before that ‘y’ are pluralised by replacing ‘y’ with ‘ies’.

Examples:
Army → Armies
Story → Stories
Baby → Babies
Hobby → Hobbies

Rule 7. Words ending in double vowels and at the end there is ‘o’ are pluralised by adding an ‘s’. 

Examples:
Bamboo → Bamboos 
Studio → Studios 
Radio → Radios
Cuckoo → Cuckoos 

Rule 8. Words that end in a single vowel and that single vowel is ‘o’, then those words can take either an ‘s’ or an ‘es’ to make them plural, depending on how those words are listened from native speakers. 

Examples:
Photo → Photos
Piano → Pianos 
Mosquito → Mosquitos/ Mosquitoes 
Commando→ Commandos/ Commandoes

Note:- There are exceptions to the above mentioned rules. 

Exercise 1

Give the plural forms of the following words. 
1. Feather
2. Brother
3. Question
4. Answer
5. Sister
6. King 
7. Laptop
8. Finger
9. Hand 
10. Head 

Answer keys:- 
1. Feathers
2. Brothers
3. Questions
4. Answers
5. Sisters
6. Kings
7. Laptops
8. Fingers
9. Hands
10. Heads

Exercise 2. 
 
Give the plural forms of the following words.
1. Wife 
2. Life 
3. Cliff
4. Wolf
5. Leaf 
6. Audio
7. Fisherman
8. History 
9. Toy 
10. Photo

Answer key:- 
1. Wives 
2. Lives 
3. Cliffs 
4. Wolves 
5. Leaves 
6. Audios 
7. Fishermen
8. Histories 
9. Toys 
10. Photos