В пособии рассматриваются основные моменты английской грамматики: части речи имя существительное, имя прилагательное и наречие; видо-временные формы глагола; модальные глаголы; неличные формы глагола

3. Plurals

A. The plural of a noun is usually made by adding s to the singular:
s is pronounced [z] after vowels and voiced consonants
[s] after voiceless consonants
[iz] after sibilants


B. Nouns ending in o or ch, sh, ss or x form their plural by adding es:
tomato-tomatoes brush-brushes box-boxes
church-churches kiss-kisses
But words of foreign origin or abbreviated words ending in o add s only:
kilo-kilos photo-photos piano-pianos
kimono-kimonos soprano-sopranos


C. If nouns end in y following a consonant we change y in i and add es:
baby-babies country-countries lady-ladies
But nouns ending in y following a vowel form their plural by adding s:
boy-boys day-days donkey-donkeys


D. Several nouns ending in f or fe change them in ve and add s:
calf-calves leaf –leaves shelf- shelves wolf-wolves
half-halves life-lives sheaf-sheaves
elf-elves loaf-loaves thief-thieves
knife-knives self-selves wife-wives
Several nouns take either s or ves in the plural:
hoof - hoofs/hooves scarf - scarfs/scarves wharf - wharfs/wharves
handkerchief – handkerchiefs/handkerchieves
Other words ending in f or fe add s in the ordinary way:
cliff - cliffs roof - roofs safe - safes


E. A few nouns form their plural by a vowel change:
foot-feet mouse-mice child-children
goose-geese tooth-teeth ox-oxen
man- men woman-women


F. Names of certain creatures do not change in the plural. Fish is normally un
changed, fishes exist but is uncommon.
Some types of fish do not change in the plural:
carp mackerel salmon
cod pike trout
but if used in a plural sense they would take a plural verb.
Others add s: crabs, herrings, lobsters, sardines, sharks.
Deer and sheep do not change: one sheep - two sheep


G. Collective nouns crew, team, family, government etc. can take a singular or a
plural verb.
Plural - this generally happens when we think of the group as people, doing the sort of things that people do (for instance, making plans, wanting
things, being disappointed, amusing themselves). In these cases, a plural
verb is used, and the group is referred to by the pronouns they and who.
My family are wonderful. They do all they can for me. I don’t know
any other family who would do so much.
‘How are the team?’ - ‘Oh, they’re very optimistic.’
Singular - if we see the group as an impersonal or unit:
Our team is the best.
The average family (which now consists of four members at most)
is a great deal smaller than it used to be.
The other words and expressions that can be used in this way:
committee, club, class, school, choir, orchestra, staff, jury, firm,
The B.B.C., The Bank of England.


H. Certain words are always plural and take a plural verb:
clothes police
articles of clothes consisting of two parts:
breeches pants pyjamas trousers etc.
and tools and instruments consisting of two parts:
binoculars pliers scissors spectacles
glasses scales shears etc.
Also certain other words including:
arms (weapons) savings
goods spirits (alcohol)
greens (vegetables) stairs
outskirts surroundings etc.