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<div class=WordSection1>
 
<div class=WordSection1>
  
−
<p><span style='color:black'>Plurals of Nouns <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
<p><span style='color:black'>Plurals of Nouns </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>chair, chairs <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>chair, chairs </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>wave, waves <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>wave, waves</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>book, books <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>book, books</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>pencil, pencils <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>pencil, pencils </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>paper, papers <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>paper, papers </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>The usual way of forming the plural of English nouns is
 
style='color:black'>The usual way of forming the plural of English nouns is
 
illustrated by the words in the column above. Simply add an S to the end of the
 
illustrated by the words in the column above. Simply add an S to the end of the
−
word. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
word.</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>Rule <span class=GramE>1.—</span>Nouns regularly form the
 
style='color:black'>Rule <span class=GramE>1.—</span>Nouns regularly form the
−
plural by adding s, but those ending in a hissing sound must add es. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
plural by adding s, but those ending in a hissing sound must add es.</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>Every word that ends in a sibilant, or hissing sound, (<span
 
style='color:black'>Every word that ends in a sibilant, or hissing sound, (<span
 
class=SpellE>ch</span>, s, <span class=SpellE>sh</span>, ss, x, z) forms its
 
class=SpellE>ch</span>, s, <span class=SpellE>sh</span>, ss, x, z) forms its
−
plural like fox. Observe the following examples: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
plural like fox. Observe the following examples:</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>dress, dresses <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>dress, dresses </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>splash, splashes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>splash, splashes </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>business, businesses <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>business, businesses </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>church, churches <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>church, churches </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>fox, foxes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>fox, foxes</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Exercise 30 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Exercise 30 </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>(a) lady, ladies (b) valley, valleys <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>(a) lady, ladies (b) valley, valleys </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>ally, <span class=GramE>allies</span> alley, alleys <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>ally, <span class=GramE>allies</span> alley, alleys </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>soliloquy, soliloquies journey, journeys <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>soliloquy, soliloquies journey, journeys </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>Name five words belonging to group (a) above. Does a vowel
 
style='color:black'>Name five words belonging to group (a) above. Does a vowel
−
or a consonant precede the y in each case? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
or a consonant precede the y in each case? </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>Name other words belonging to the group (b) above. Does a
 
style='color:black'>Name other words belonging to the group (b) above. Does a
−
vowel or a consonant precede the y in each case?[19] <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
vowel or a consonant precede the y in each case?</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>Rule <span class=GramE>2.—</span>Nouns ending in y preceded
 
style='color:black'>Rule <span class=GramE>2.—</span>Nouns ending in y preceded
 
by a consonant (and nouns ending in <span class=SpellE>quy</span>) form the
 
by a consonant (and nouns ending in <span class=SpellE>quy</span>) form the
−
plural by changing y to <span class=SpellE>i</span> and adding es. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
plural by changing y to <span class=SpellE>i</span> and adding es.</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Exercise 31—Words ending in o <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Exercise 31—Words ending in o</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>(a) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>(a) </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>potato, potatoes hero, <span class=GramE>heroes</span>
 
style='color:black'>potato, potatoes hero, <span class=GramE>heroes</span>
−
mulatto, mulattoes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
mulatto, mulattoes </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>tomato, tomatoes buffalo, <span class=GramE>buffaloes</span>
 
style='color:black'>tomato, tomatoes buffalo, <span class=GramE>buffaloes</span>
−
cargo, cargoes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
cargo, cargoes </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>negro, negroes echo, echoes motto, mottoes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>negro, negroes echo, echoes motto, mottoes </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>(b) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>(b) </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>solo, solos piano, pianos memento, mementos <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>solo, solos piano, pianos memento, mementos </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>halo, halos lasso, lassos canto, cantos <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>halo, halos lasso, lassos canto, cantos</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>zero, zeros quarto, quartos soprano, sopranos <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>zero, zeros quarto, quartos soprano, sopranos </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
class=SpellE><span style='color:black'>stilletto</span></span><span
 
class=SpellE><span style='color:black'>stilletto</span></span><span
−
style='color:black'>, <span class=SpellE>stillettos</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>, <span class=SpellE>stillettos</span> </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>The older English words ending in o form the plural by
 
style='color:black'>The older English words ending in o form the plural by
 
adding es, as in potatoes; those more recently taken into the language form the
 
adding es, as in potatoes; those more recently taken into the language form the
−
plural by adding s, as in quartos. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
plural by adding s, as in quartos.</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Exercise 32—Nouns in f and <span class=SpellE>fe</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Exercise 32—Nouns in f and <span class=SpellE>fe</span></span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>leaf, leaves calf, <span class=GramE>calves</span> wife,
 
style='color:black'>leaf, leaves calf, <span class=GramE>calves</span> wife,
−
wives <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
wives </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>loaf, loaves sheaf, sheaves shelf, shelves <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>loaf, loaves sheaf, sheaves shelf, shelves </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>half, halves wolf, <span class=GramE>wolves</span> elf,
 
style='color:black'>half, halves wolf, <span class=GramE>wolves</span> elf,
−
elves <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
elves </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>life, lives beef, beeves wharf, wharves (or wharfs) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>life, lives beef, beeves wharf, wharves (or wharfs)</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>self, <span class=GramE>selves</span> knife, knives <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>self, <span class=GramE>selves</span> knife, knives </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>With the exception of the words given above, nouns ending
 
style='color:black'>With the exception of the words given above, nouns ending
−
in an f sound form the plural in the regular way; as, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
in an f sound form the plural in the regular way; as, </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>hoof, hoofs scarf, scarfs beliefs, beliefs <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>hoof, hoofs scarf, scarfs beliefs, beliefs </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>chief, <span class=GramE>chiefs</span> reef, reefs grief,
 
style='color:black'>chief, <span class=GramE>chiefs</span> reef, reefs grief,
−
griefs <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
griefs </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Exercise 33—Irregular Plurals <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Exercise 33—Irregular Plurals </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Some nouns form their plural by a change of vowel; as, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Some nouns form their plural by a change of vowel; as, </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
class=GramE><span style='color:black'>man</span></span><span style='color:black'>
 
class=GramE><span style='color:black'>man</span></span><span style='color:black'>
−
men foot feet <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
men foot feet </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>woman women tooth teeth <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>woman women tooth teeth </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>goose geese mouse mice <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>goose geese mouse mice </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>A few words retain the old time plural <span class=SpellE>en</span>;
 
style='color:black'>A few words retain the old time plural <span class=SpellE>en</span>;
−
as, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
as, </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>brother brethren <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>brother brethren </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>child children ox oxen <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>child children ox oxen </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>A few words are the same in both singular and plural; as, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>A few words are the same in both singular and plural; as, </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>sheep, trout, deer <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>sheep, trout, deer </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Some nouns have two plurals which differ in meaning; as, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Some nouns have two plurals which differ in meaning; as,</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Singular Plural <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Singular Plural </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>brother <span class=GramE>brothers</span> brethren <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>brother <span class=GramE>brothers</span> brethren </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>penny pennies pence <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>penny pennies pence </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>pea peas <span class=SpellE>pease</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>pea peas <span class=SpellE>pease</span> </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>die dies dice <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>die dies dice </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Exercise 34—Compound Nouns <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Exercise 34—Compound Nouns </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Singular Plural <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Singular Plural </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>brother-in-law brothers-in-law <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>brother-in-law brothers-in-law </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>father-in-law fathers-in-law <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>father-in-law fathers-in-law </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>court-martial courts-martial <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>court-martial courts-martial </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>commander-in-chief commanders-in-chief <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>commander-in-chief commanders-in-chief </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>man-of-war men-of-war <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>man-of-war men-of-war </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>major general major generals <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>major general major generals </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>goose quill goose quills <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>goose quill goose quills </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>bill of fare bills of fare <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>bill of fare bills of fare </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>spoonful <span class=SpellE>spoonfuls</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>spoonful <span class=SpellE>spoonfuls</span> </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>cupful <span class=SpellE>cupfuls</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>cupful <span class=SpellE>cupfuls</span> </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
style='color:black'>Rule <span class=GramE>3.—</span>Compound nouns usually add
 
style='color:black'>Rule <span class=GramE>3.—</span>Compound nouns usually add
−
the sign of the plural to the fundamental part of the word. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
the sign of the plural to the fundamental part of the word. </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
class=GramE><span style='color:black'>NOTE.—</span></span><span
 
class=GramE><span style='color:black'>NOTE.—</span></span><span
 
style='color:black'>In <span class=SpellE>spoonfuls</span> the thought is of
 
style='color:black'>In <span class=SpellE>spoonfuls</span> the thought is of
−
one spoon many times full. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
one spoon many times full.</span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
−
style='color:black'>Plural of Letters and Figures <o:p></o:p></span></p>
+
style='color:black'>Plural of Letters and Figures </span></p>
  
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span
 
<p style='orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span

Revision as of 14:24, 20 June 2020

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Plurals of Nouns

chair, chairs

wave, waves

book, books

pencil, pencils

paper, papers

The usual way of forming the plural of English nouns is illustrated by the words in the column above. Simply add an S to the end of the word.

Rule 1.—Nouns regularly form the plural by adding s, but those ending in a hissing sound must add es.

Every word that ends in a sibilant, or hissing sound, (ch, s, sh, ss, x, z) forms its plural like fox. Observe the following examples:

dress, dresses

splash, splashes

business, businesses

church, churches

fox, foxes

Exercise 30

(a) lady, ladies (b) valley, valleys

ally, allies alley, alleys

soliloquy, soliloquies journey, journeys

Name five words belonging to group (a) above. Does a vowel or a consonant precede the y in each case?

Name other words belonging to the group (b) above. Does a vowel or a consonant precede the y in each case?

Rule 2.—Nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant (and nouns ending in quy) form the plural by changing y to i and adding es.

Exercise 31—Words ending in o

(a)

potato, potatoes hero, heroes mulatto, mulattoes

tomato, tomatoes buffalo, buffaloes cargo, cargoes

negro, negroes echo, echoes motto, mottoes

(b)

solo, solos piano, pianos memento, mementos

halo, halos lasso, lassos canto, cantos

zero, zeros quarto, quartos soprano, sopranos

stilletto, stillettos

The older English words ending in o form the plural by adding es, as in potatoes; those more recently taken into the language form the plural by adding s, as in quartos.

Exercise 32—Nouns in f and fe

leaf, leaves calf, calves wife, wives

loaf, loaves sheaf, sheaves shelf, shelves

half, halves wolf, wolves elf, elves

life, lives beef, beeves wharf, wharves (or wharfs)

self, selves knife, knives

With the exception of the words given above, nouns ending in an f sound form the plural in the regular way; as,

hoof, hoofs scarf, scarfs beliefs, beliefs

chief, chiefs reef, reefs grief, griefs

Exercise 33—Irregular Plurals

Some nouns form their plural by a change of vowel; as,

man men foot feet

woman women tooth teeth

goose geese mouse mice

A few words retain the old time plural en; as,

brother brethren

child children ox oxen

A few words are the same in both singular and plural; as,

sheep, trout, deer

Some nouns have two plurals which differ in meaning; as,

Singular Plural

brother brothers brethren

penny pennies pence

pea peas pease

die dies dice

Exercise 34—Compound Nouns

Singular Plural

brother-in-law brothers-in-law

father-in-law fathers-in-law

court-martial courts-martial

commander-in-chief commanders-in-chief

man-of-war men-of-war

major general major generals

goose quill goose quills

bill of fare bills of fare

spoonful spoonfuls

cupful cupfuls

Rule 3.—Compound nouns usually add the sign of the plural to the fundamental part of the word.

NOTE.—In spoonfuls the thought is of one spoon many times full.

Plural of Letters and Figures

Rule 4.—Letters and figures form the plural by adding the apostrophe (') and s; as, <o:p></o:p>

a a's 3 3's <o:p></o:p>

w w's 5 5's <o:p></o:p>

The same rule applies to the plural of words which ordinarily have no plural; as, <o:p></o:p>

Don't use so many and's and if's. <o:p></o:p>

Exercise 35—Foreign Plurals <o:p></o:p>

Some nouns derived from foreign languages retain their original plural. The following are in common use. <o:p></o:p>

Singular Plural Singular Plural <o:p></o:p>

crisis crises stratum strata <o:p></o:p>

thesis theses radius radii <o:p></o:p>

hypothesis hypotheses parenthesis parentheses <o:p></o:p>

focus foci synopsis synopses <o:p></o:p>

datum data basis bases <o:p></o:p>

alumnus alumni automaton automata <o:p></o:p>

alumna alumnae analysis analyses <o:p></o:p>

oasis oases nucleus nuclei <o:p></o:p>

axis axes phenomenon phenomena <o:p></o:p>

genus genera <o:p></o:p>

Some words admit of two plurals, one the foreign plural, and one the regular English plural; as, <o:p></o:p>

Singular Plural <o:p></o:p>

beau beaux beaus <o:p></o:p>

formula formulae formulas <o:p></o:p>

vertex vertices vertexes <o:p></o:p>

index indices indexes <o:p></o:p>

cherub cherubim cherubs <o:p></o:p>

seraph seraphim seraphs <o:p></o:p>

bandit banditti bandits <o:p></o:p>

Focus:Spelling Plural Forms of Countable Nouns <o:p></o:p>

Supply the correct spellings of the plural forms of the following nouns. An asterisk (*) before a noun indicates that the word is a Latin or Greek origin. Carefully check the rules for spelling plural countable nouns. Use your dictionary for the words that you do not know. <o:p></o:p>

EXAMPLES: a. potato potatoes <o:p></o:p>

b. class classes <o:p></o:p>

Mosquito <o:p></o:p>

Child <o:p></o:p>

Crisis <o:p></o:p>

Piano <o:p></o:p>

Attorney <o:p></o:p>

Man <o:p></o:p>

Fish <o:p></o:p>

Parenthesis <o:p></o:p>

Mouse <o:p></o:p>

Country <o:p></o:p>

Umbrella <o:p></o:p>

Knife <o:p></o:p>

Valley <o:p></o:p>

Thesis <o:p></o:p>

Gentleman library <o:p></o:p>

Analysis <o:p></o:p>

Woman <o:p></o:p>

Soprano <o:p></o:p>

Tooth <o:p></o:p>

Party <o:p></o:p>

Roof <o:p></o:p>

Boy <o:p></o:p>

Radius <o:p></o:p>

Goose <o:p></o:p>

Axis <o:p></o:p>

Life <o:p></o:p>

Tax <o:p></o:p>

Dictionary <o:p></o:p>

Dee<o:p></o:p>

Zoo <o:p></o:p>

Leaf <o:p></o:p>

Foot <o:p></o:p>

Series <o:p></o:p>

Datum <o:p></o:p>

Ox <o:p></o:p>

Calf <o:p></o:p>

Handkerchief <o:p></o:p>

Tray <o:p></o:p>

Hero <o:p></o:p>

Couch <o:p></o:p>

Radio <o:p></o:p>

Self <o:p></o:p>

Stomach <o:p></o:p>

Thief <o:p></o:p>

Criterion <o:p></o:p>

Bush <o:p></o:p>

Phenomenon <o:p></o:p>

Means <o:p></o:p>

Loaf <o:p></o:p>

Stimulus <o:p></o:p>

Half <o:p></o:p>

Epoch <o:p></o:p>

Wolf <o:p></o:p>

Day <o:p></o:p>

Shelf <o:p></o:p>

Party <o:p></o:p>

Wif<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

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