The English language can be tricky, especially when it comes to pluralizing words. One word that often causes confusion is “business.” Is it “businesses” or “business”? In this article, we will explore the rules for pluralizing “business” and provide examples of when to use each form.
Plural of Business
Definition and Plural of Business
When we use the word “business”, we usually refer to a commercial or mercantile activity. It can be a company, a trade, or an enterprise. In general, the word “business” can be both countable and uncountable. When we use it as a countable noun, we can talk about one business or several businesses. In contrast, when we use it as an uncountable noun, we refer to the idea of business as a concept or an activity.
The plural form of “business” can be either “businesses” or “business”. The former is more commonly used when we refer to various types of businesses or a collection of businesses. The latter is used when we talk about a group of companies or enterprises that are related to each other, such as the music business or the fashion business.
In summary, “business” can be both countable and uncountable, and its plural form can be either “businesses” or “business”.
When to Use Business and Plural of Business
When referring to a single company or organization, use the word “business.” For example, “I work for a business in the tech industry.” In this example, business refers to a company, there’s only one, therefore we use the singular form of the word.
When referring to multiple companies or organizations, use the plural form of the word “business,” which is “businesses.” For example, “The city is home to many businesses in various industries.”
It’s important to note that “business’s” is the possessive form of the word “business,” while “businesses” is the plural form. For example, “The business’s profits have increased this quarter” refers to the profits of a single company, while “The businesses’ profits have increased this quarter” refers to the profits of multiple companies.
Remember to use the correct form of the word depending on the context to avoid confusion.
Examples of Business and Plural of Business in Sentences
When using the word “business” as a singular noun, it refers to a company or organization that engages in commercial, industrial, or professional activities. However, when using it as a plural noun, it refers to multiple companies or organizations.
Here are some examples of how to use “business” and “businesses” in sentences:
Using “business”:
- This business is growing rapidly and expanding into new markets.
- The success of the business is due to its innovative products and services.
- The owner of the business is a well-respected figure in the industry.
- The business has a strict code of ethics and values that guide its operations.
- The future of the business depends on its ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
Using “businesses”:
- You can find many businesses in the downtown area.
- The new shopping center has attracted several businesses.
- The local economy relies heavily on small businesses.
- Many businesses were affected by the pandemic.
- The city council is working to attract new businesses to the area.
As you can see, the plural form of “business” is simply “businesses”. It is formed by adding “es” to the end of the singular noun. We use the plural form of business when we want to refer to more than one company or organization.
Plural Noun Rules for Regular Nouns
To form the plural of regular nouns, you generally add an -s or -es to the end of the singular noun. Here are some rules to keep in mind:
- Add -s to most singular nouns to form the plural
- Add -es to singular nouns that end in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh
- Change -y to -ies for singular nouns that end in a consonant before the -y
- For singular nouns that end in -f or -fe, change the -f or -fe to -ves to form the plural
- For singular nouns that end in a consonant + -y, change the -y to -ies to form the plural
- For singular nouns that end in a vowel + -y, add -s to form the plural
Examples:
- Singular: cat / Plural: cats
- Singular: box / Plural: boxes
- Singular: buzz / Plural: buzzes
- Singular: bench / Plural: benches
- Singular: brush / Plural: brushes
- Singular: baby / Plural: babies
- Singular: knife / Plural: knives
- Singular: leaf / Plural: leaves
- Singular: city / Plural: cities
- Singular: toy / Plural: toys
By following these rules, you can form the plural of most regular nouns in English.
Plural Noun Rules for Irregular Nouns
When it comes to irregular nouns, there are no hard and fast rules for forming their plurals. However, there are some general patterns that can be helpful to keep in mind. In this section, we’ll go over some of the most common types of irregular nouns and the rules for forming their plurals.
List of Common Irregular Plural Nouns
Here are some of the most common irregular plural nouns in English:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
child | children |
foot | feet |
goose | geese |
man | men |
mouse | mice |
tooth | teeth |
woman | women |
Nouns That End in Us
Nouns that end in “us” often have irregular plurals that end in “i.” Here are some examples:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
cactus | cacti |
fungus | fungi |
nucleus | nuclei |
radius | radii |
stimulus | stimuli |
Nouns That End in Is
Some nouns that end in “is” have irregular plurals that end in “es.” Here are some examples:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
analysis | analyses |
axis | axes |
basis | bases |
crisis | crises |
thesis | theses |
Nouns That End in On and Um
Some nouns that end in “on” or “um” have irregular plurals that end in “a.” Here are some examples:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
criterion | criteria |
phenomenon | phenomena |
bacterium | bacteria |
Plurals That Are the Same as Singulars
Some nouns have the same form for both the singular and plural. Here are some examples:
Singular/Plural | |
---|---|
deer | |
fish | |
sheep | |
species |
Words That Look Like Plural Nouns but Are Singular Nouns
Some words that look like plural nouns are actually singular nouns. Here are some examples:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
news | |
mathematics | |
physics | |
politics |
That’s a brief overview of the rules for forming plurals of irregular nouns. While there are many exceptions to these rules, keeping them in mind can help you form the plurals of many common irregular nouns.
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Plural Nouns vs. Possessive Nouns
Plural nouns are used when referring to more than one of something. They are usually formed by adding “s” or “es” to the end of a singular noun. For example, “apple” becomes “apples” in the plural form.
Here are some examples of plural nouns:
- Cats
- Dogs
- Cars
- Houses
- Books
Possessive nouns, on the other hand, show ownership or possession. They can be formed in different ways depending on the noun.
For singular nouns, you can add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s) to the end of the word to make it possessive. For example:
- The cat’s toy
- The dog’s bone
- The car’s engine
- The house’s roof
- The book’s cover
For plural nouns that end in “s”, you can add just an apostrophe (‘) to the end of the word to make it possessive. For example:
- The cats’ toys
- The dogs’ bones
- The cars’ engines
- The houses’ roofs
- The books’ covers
For plural nouns that don’t end in “s” (e.g. children, women), you add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s) to the end of the word to make it possessive. For example:
- The children’s toys
- The women’s clothing
Common Mistakes with Plural Nouns
When it comes to using plural nouns, there are a few common mistakes that people tend to make. Here are some of the most frequent errors to avoid:
Irregular Plurals
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that don’t follow the usual rules. For example, the plural of “man” is “men,” not “mans.” Other examples include “child” (children), “tooth” (teeth), and “foot” (feet). It’s important to memorize these irregular forms to avoid mistakes.
Adding an Apostrophe
Another common mistake is adding an apostrophe to make a noun plural. For example, you might write “I have three apple’s” instead of “I have three apples.” Remember that an apostrophe is only used to indicate possession, not to make a noun plural.
Overusing “s” or “es”
While adding “s” or “es” is the most common way to form plurals, it’s not always the correct choice. For example, the plural of “business” is “businesses,” not “business’s.” Similarly, the plural of “company” is “companies,” not “company’s.”
Confusing Possessives and Plurals
Finally, it’s important to distinguish between possessive nouns and plural nouns. For example, “the cat’s toys” indicates that the toys belong to the cat, while “the cats’ toys” indicates that the toys belong to multiple cats. Make sure you use the correct form to avoid confusion.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct plural form of ‘business’?
The correct plural form of ‘business’ is ‘businesses’.
Is ‘business’ a countable or uncountable noun?
‘Business’ can be both a countable and an uncountable noun depending on the context. When it refers to a specific company or enterprise, it is countable. When it refers to the activity of buying and selling goods and services, it is uncountable.
What is the rule for making nouns plural in English grammar?
In English grammar, most nouns are made plural by adding ‘s’ to the end of the word. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
What is the difference between ‘businesses’ and ‘business’s’?
‘Businesses’ is the plural form of ‘business’, while ‘business’s’ is the possessive form of ‘business’. For example, “The businesses’ profits increased last year” means that the profits of multiple businesses increased, while “The business’s profits increased last year” means that the profits of one specific business increased.
Can you give an example of a plural possessive noun used in a sentence?
Sure! “The dogs’ toys were scattered all over the yard” is an example of a plural possessive noun.
What are some other nouns that follow the same pluralization rule as ‘business’ in English grammar?
Some other nouns that follow the same pluralization rule as ‘business’ include ‘box’, ‘church’, ‘class’, ‘watch’, and ‘wish’.
That’s it for our frequently asked questions about the plural of ‘business’! We hope this information was helpful to you.
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