Numbers - With Definition, Rules, Examples, Types, Singular & Plural | EnglishEraWithAmitPoonia

 

What is Number in English Grammar?

Number in English grammar tells us whether a noun refers to one person/thing or more than one.

In simple words, it shows singular or plural.

Countable Nouns (गणनीय संज्ञा)

Definition (English):
Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. They have singular and plural forms.

परिभाषा (Hindi):
जिन संज्ञाओं को गिना जा सकता है, उन्हें Countable Nouns कहते हैं। इनके एकवचन और बहुवचन होते हैं।

Uncountable Nouns (अगणनीय संज्ञा)

Definition (English):
Uncountable nouns are nouns that cannot be counted individually. They usually have only one form.

परिभाषा (Hindi):
जिन संज्ञाओं को अलग-अलग गिना नहीं जा सकता, उन्हें Uncountable Nouns कहते हैं। इनके बहुवचन नहीं होते।

Examples:

1. General Rule: Add –s

Most nouns form the plural by adding s.

Rule: Singular + s

Examples:

1. Book - Books – I bought two books.

2. Pen - Pens – The pens are on the table.

3. Girl - Girls – The girls are playing.

4. Dog - Dogs – Dogs are loyal animals.

5. Tree - Trees – The trees are tall.

6. Chair - Chairs – The chairs are broken.

7. Car - Cars – Cars are parked outside.

8. Boy - Boys – The boys are studying.

9. Teacher - Teachers – Teachers guide students.

10. Apple - Apples – Apples are healthy.

2. Nouns Ending in s, sh, ch, x, z - Add –es

Rule: Singular + es

Examples:

1. Bus - Buses – Buses run on time.

2. Box - Boxes – The boxes are heavy.

3. Class - Classes – Classes start at nine.

4. Dish - Dishes – Wash the dishes.

5. Match - Matches – The matches are wet.

6. Brush - Brushes – New brushes are needed.

7. Fox - Foxes – Foxes are clever.

8. Watch - Watches – These watches are costly.

9. Quiz - Quizzes – The quizzes were difficult.

10. Glass - Glasses – I wear glasses.

3. Nouns Ending in y

a) Consonant + y - y becomes i + es

Examples:

1. Baby - Babies – Babies need care.

2. City - Cities – Big cities are crowded.

3. Lady - Ladies – The ladies arrived early.

4. Story - Stories – Stories inspire us.

5. Country - Countries – Countries trade globally.

6. Party - Parties – Parties are fun.

7. Fly - Flies – Flies spread germs.

8. Army - Armies – Armies protect nations.

9. Puppy - Puppies – Puppies are cute.

10. Factory - Factories – Factories produce goods.

b) Vowel + y - Add –s only

Examples:

Boy - Boys, Toy - Toys, Day - Days

4. Nouns Ending in f / fe - f/fe becomes ves

Examples:

1. Leaf - Leaves – Leaves fall in autumn.

2. Wolf - Wolves – Wolves live in packs.

3. Knife - Knives – Knives are sharp.

4. Life - Lives – They saved many lives.

5. Wife - Wives – Wives supported them.

6. Shelf - Shelves – Shelves are full.

7. Thief - Thieves – Thieves were caught.

8. Loaf - Loaves – Fresh loaves are baked.

9. Half - Halves – Cut it into halves.

10. Calf - Calves – Calves need milk.

5. Irregular Plurals (No Fixed Rule)

Examples:

1. Man - Men – Men are working.

2. Woman - Women – Women lead teams.

3. Child - Children – Children are learning.

4. Tooth - Teeth – Teeth need care.

5. Foot - Feet – Feet were tired.

6. Mouse - Mice – Mice ran away.

7. Goose - Geese – Geese are swimming.

8. Person - People – People gathered here.

9. Ox - Oxen – Oxen pull carts.

10. Louse - Lice – Lice cause itching.

6. Same Form for Singular and Plural

Examples:

1. Sheep – The sheep is grazing / The sheep are grazing.

2. Deer – A deer crossed the road / Many deer crossed it.

3. Fish – I caught a fish / I caught many fish.

4. Aircraft – One aircraft landed / Two aircraft landed.

5. Species – This species is rare / These species are rare.

7. Nouns Always Plural

Examples:

1. Scissors – The scissors are sharp.

2. Trousers – His trousers are new.

3. Shorts – These shorts are cheap.

4. Glasses – My glasses are broken.

5. Pants – Pants are comfortable.

8. Important Exceptions (Must Remember)

1. Photo - Photos (not photoes)
2. Piano - Pianos
3. Roof - Roofs (not rooves)
4. Belief - Beliefs
5. Chief - Chiefs

Sentence: The roofs of houses are damaged.

9. Words Ending with O → Add –ES (Mostly)

Many nouns ending in O form their plural by adding –es, especially short words or words used in daily life.

Rule: Singular + es

Examples:

1. Potato - Potatoes – Potatoes are rich in starch.

2. Tomato - Tomatoes – Tomatoes are fresh.

3. Hero - Heroes – Heroes inspire people.

4. Echo - Echoes – Echoes were heard.

5. Mango - Mangoes – Mangoes are sweet.

6. Negro - Negroes – Negroes were mentioned in history books.

7. Volcano - Volcanoes – Volcanoes erupt suddenly.

8. Cargo - Cargoes – Cargoes were shipped.

9. Mosquito - Mosquitoes – Mosquitoes spread diseases.

10. Buffalo - Buffaloes – Buffaloes are grazing.

10. Words Ending with O → Add –S (Many Exceptions)

Words ending in O that come from shortened forms, musical terms, modern usage, or foreign origin usually take –s only.

Rule: Singular + s

Examples:

1. Photo - Photos – Photos look beautiful.

2. Piano - Pianos – Pianos are expensive.

3. Radio - Radios – Radios are playing.

4. Video - Videos – Videos went viral.

5. Studio - Studios – Studios are closed.

6. Zoo - Zoos – Zoos protect animals.

7. Solo - Solos – Guitar solos were amazing.

8. Logo - Logos – Logos represent brands.

9. Memo - Memos – Memos were sent.

10. Auto - Autos – Autos are common here.

11. Words Ending with OO → Add –S only

All nouns ending with OO form the plural by adding –s.

Rule: Singular + s

Examples with sentences:

1. Zoo - Zoos – Zoos are educational.

2. Kangaroo - Kangaroos – Kangaroos jump high.

3. Bamboo - Bamboos – Bamboos grow fast.

4. Cuckoo - Cuckoos – Cuckoos sing loudly.

5. Tattoo - Tattoos – Tattoos are popular.

6. Igloo - Igloos – Igloos are made of ice.

7. Shamboo - Shamboos – Shamboos are stored.

8. Tycoon - Tycoons – Tycoons invest heavily.

9. Taboo - Taboos – Taboos vary by culture.

10. Boo - Boos – Boos came from the crowd.

11. Rule: Making Plurals of Short Forms / Abbreviations

When letters, short forms, abbreviations, or initials are made plural, we often add ’s to avoid confusion, especially in traditional or educational writing.

Structure: Abbreviation + ’s

A. Plural of Letters (A, B, C, etc.)

Examples:

1. A - A’s – Do not forget to cross your A’s.
2. B - B’s – There are three B’s in this word.
3. C - C’s – The report has many C’s.
4. D - D’s – He scored two D’s

B. Plural of Initialisms (Capital Letters)

Examples:

1. M.L.A → M.L.A’s – The M.L.A’s attended the meeting.
2. M.P → M.P’s – The M.P’s raised the issue.
3. S.P → S.P’s – Several S.P’s were transferred.
4. C.E.O → C.E.O’s – The C.E.O’s met today.
5. I.A.S → I.A.S’s – The I.A.S’s were honored.

C. Plural of Numbers, Years & Symbols (Traditional Use)

Examples:

1. 1990 - 1990’s – Music of the 1990’s was popular.
2. 10 - 10’s – He is in his 10’s.
3. ₹ - ₹’s – Avoid mixing ₹’s in notes.

Modern Style Note:
Today, many style guides prefer 1990s (without apostrophe), but 1990’s is still accepted in exams and traditional writing.