1. NOUNS: SINGULAR AND
PLURAL
By Belén
Sáez
Hernáez

2. SINGULAR
We use a/an with singular nouns.
- We use a before a consonant sound and
an before a vowel sound.
This is a cat.
This is an
umbrella.

3. a/an or the?
We use a or an when the thing or person we
talk about is not one in particular.
We use the when the thing or person we talk
about is one in particular.
This is a book.
This is the book we
use in our lessons.

4. For things in general
For things in general: no a or the
English students work
in groups.
People in Spain read
newspapers.

5. 1. REGULAR PLURAL: -s
We normally use an s to make plural nouns.
One tree Two trees
A photo Some photos

6. 2. REGULAR PLURAL: -es
With nouns ending in s, ss, sh, ch, zz, or x,
we add -es for plurals.
Bus Buses
Dress Dresses
Dish Dishes
Sandwich Sandwiches
Box Boxes
Buzz Buzzes

7. REGULAR PLURAL: -es
Some names ending in o, make their plural
with es: Potato - potatoes
Tomato - tomatoes
Hero - heroes

8. REGULAR PLURAL: -es
But, other names ending in o, make their
plural with -s:
Photo - photos
Radio - radios

9. 3. REGULAR PLURAL: -ies
Nouns ending in consonant + y, we make
plural nouns with –ies.
Cherry - cherries
Baby - babies
Diary - diaries

10. REGULAR PLURAL: -ies
But, for nouns ending in vowel + y, we use
s
to make plurals.Day - days
Boy - boys

11. 4. REGULAR PLURAL: -ves
We normally change -f / -fe to -ves in the
plural.
Knife - knives
Shelf - shelves

12. PRONUNCIATION: /s/ and /z/
http
://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/englishfile/
http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/englishfil

13. PRONUNCIATION
The pronunciation of the s depends on the
sound at the end of the word:
1. /k, f, p, t/ + /s/
Books, roofs, stops, cats
2. /b, d, g, l, m, n, η/ and vowel sounds + /z/
Bobs, dads, bags, boys
3. /t , s, , z/ + es = /iz/ʃ ʃ
Sandwiches, buses, dishes, buzzes.

14. IRREGULAR PLURAL
Some irregular plurals are:
Man- men
Woman- women
Child-children
Tooth-teeth
Foot-feet

15. IRREGULAR PLURAL
More irregular plurals:
Mouse-mice
Person-people
Police officer- police

16. PLURAL-ONLY NOUNS
Some nouns are always plural:
Jeans and trousers
Scissors
Sunglasses and glasses
Pyjamas
Clothes