1. Plural Forms

2. Agenda Singular/Plural Forms Subject Verb Agreement: Exceptions
Plural Forms and Apostrophe
Possessive Case and Plural
Basic Rules and Exceptions
Common Mistakes

3. Singular/Plural Form General form : adding s
Words that end in -o, -ch, x, s or s-like sounds: adding es
Words that end in y : change the y sound to an i sound and add s or es
Words that end in -f or –fe : change the f sound to a v sound and add s or es

4. Singular/Plural Form (cont.)
Maintain their Latin or Greek form
Irregular forms have to be memorized
Example:
Singular
circuit
potato
witch
box
baby
knife
nucleus
phenomenon
woman
child
Plural
circuits
potatoes
witches
boxes
babies
knives
nuclei
phenomena
women
children

5. Subject Verb Agreement: Exceptions
Nouns that appear to be plural in form can take a singular verb:
The news is good.
Gymnastics is fun to watch.
Numerical expressions: usually singular, but can be plural if the individuals within a numerical group are acting individually:
Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money.
One-half of the faculty is retiring this summer

6. Subject Verb Agreement: Exceptions
Nouns seem to be singular in nature take a plural form:
My pants are torn.
Her scissors were stolen.
Collective nouns: singular - think of them as groups
plural - think of the individuals
A dozen is probably not enough.
A dozen are coming over this afternoon.

7. Plural Forms and Apostrophe
Apostrophes are used for two main reasons.
They are used to show possession
Example: the engineer’s desk
2. to show that words have been contracted.
Examples: He's = He is. It’s = It is
With contractions, the apostrophe must be placed where the letters or numbers are missing.

8. Possessive Plural Noun
Possessive plural noun ending with an s, add ‘ only
For Example: Engineers’ desks
are often full of papers.
Possessive plural noun not ending with an s, add ‘ s
For Example:The women’s
room is closed today.

9. Basic Rules
Before placing the apostrophe decide whether the possessive noun should be singular or plural.
Example: the engineer’s desk
If the noun should be plural make it plural first, and then make it possessive.
Example: the engineers’ desks
Apostrophe -s (‘s) does not make a noun plural. For Example: Mr. Jones’s experiment

10. Exception Option Just add the ‘ if all of the following is true
The noun is a name of a person or a thing
Has two or more syllables
Ends with an S sound
For Example:
Al Martinez’ son is an honor student

11. Common Mistakes
A sign to thank volunteers for sandbagging the river read:
"You saved our buildings basement. Thank you, volunteer's !"
Correct:
"You saved our buildings’ basement. Thank you, volunteers !"

12. More Information Reference:

13. Plural Forms: Quiz
Please take the Plural Forms Quiz on WebCT now.