Plurals can be a tricky subject in English grammar, and the plural of ‘it’ is no exception. While many nouns follow a predictable pattern when forming their plurals, ‘it’ is a pronoun and does not always follow the same rules. In this article, we will explore the basics of plural forms and take a closer look at the singular pronoun ‘it’ and its plural forms.
Plural of It
The Singular Pronoun ‘It’
The pronoun ‘it’ is a singular pronoun used to refer to a non-human object, animal, or concept. It is an essential part of the English language and is used in various contexts, from simple sentences to complex ones. In this section, we will explore the different uses of the singular pronoun ‘it.’
Subject Pronoun
‘It’ can be used as the subject of a sentence. For example:
- It is raining outside.
- It was a beautiful day yesterday.
- It seems like we’re lost.
In these examples, ‘it’ is used to refer to the weather, the day, and the situation, respectively.
Object Pronoun
‘It’ can also be used as an object pronoun. For example:
- I saw a bird, and I fed it some bread.
- She loves her car, and she takes care of it.
- He found a wallet, and he returned it to its owner.
In these examples, ‘it’ is used to refer to the bird, the car, and the wallet, respectively.
Emphatic Pronoun
‘It’ can also be used as an emphatic pronoun to add emphasis to a sentence. For example:
- I made the cake myself, and it was delicious!
- She ran the marathon, and she finished it!
- He fixed the car, and he did it all by himself!
In these examples, ‘it’ is used to emphasize the cake, the marathon, and the car, respectively.
Dummy Pronoun
Finally, ‘it’ can also be used as a dummy pronoun when there is no other subject available. For example:
- It is important to drink water every day.
- It is easy to learn English with practice.
- It is necessary to follow the rules.
In these examples, ‘it’ is used to introduce the sentence and does not refer to anything specific.
The Plural of It
In English, when you’re dealing with a plural subject that is neither male nor female, or when the gender is unknown or irrelevant, you typically replace ‘it’ with ‘they,’ ‘them,’ or ‘their.’ For example, when referring to a group of animals or objects, instead of ‘it,’ you would say:
- They are on the table. (subject case)
- I have three dogs; I trained them myself. (object case)
- Every house has its own design, but their roofs are similar. (possessive case)
When you use ‘they’, it typically serves as the subject of a verb, like in the sentence “They are available.” Here, ‘they’ could replace a singular ‘it’ when it refers to multiple subjects.
Conversely, you will use ‘them’ as the object of a verb or preposition. For example, in “You can find them on the shelf,” ‘them’ would replace ‘it’ if ‘it’ referred to several objects.
The possessive form changes as well. Instead of ‘its’, the plural possessive is ‘their’. Use ‘their’ to indicate that something belongs to a group, as in “Their design is innovative.”
Remember:
- ‘They’ is used when the pronoun is the subject of a verb.
- ‘Them’ is used when the pronoun is the object of a verb or a preposition.
- ‘Their’ is used to show possession.
Exceptions and Irregularities
The English language includes exceptions where ‘it’ appears to take on a plural form, particularly in cleft sentences, which are used for emphasis. In these constructions, ‘it’ remains singular even though it refers to a plural noun. For example:
- It’s the holidays that bring us together.
In this case, ‘it’ is a preparatory subject, not the true plural subject of the sentence. The actual subject is ‘the holidays.’ Moreover, ‘it’s’ should not be confused with ‘its,’ which is a singular possessive pronoun.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Incorrect Use of ‘Its’
One of the common mistakes that English learners make is the incorrect use of ‘its’. ‘Its’ is a possessive pronoun that is used to show ownership of something. It is used to describe something that belongs to an object or animal, not a person. For example, “The cat licked its paw.”
However, many people confuse ‘its’ with ‘it’s’, which is a contraction of ‘it is’ or ‘it has’. This can lead to confusion and incorrect usage in sentences. To avoid this mistake, remember that ‘it’s’ always has an apostrophe and is never used to show possession.
Confusion with ‘They’
Another common mistake is the confusion between ‘it’ and ‘they’. ‘It’ is used to refer to a singular object or animal, while ‘they’ is used to refer to a group of people or objects. For example, “The apple fell from the tree. It rolled down the hill.” versus “The apples fell from the tree. They rolled down the hill.”
However, some English learners may use ‘they’ to refer to a singular object or animal, which can lead to confusion and incorrect usage in sentences. To avoid this mistake, remember to use ‘it’ for singular objects or animals and ‘they’ for plural objects or people.
In conclusion, these common mistakes can be easily avoided by paying attention to the correct usage of ‘its’ and ‘it’s’, and understanding the difference between ‘it’ and ‘they’. By using these tips and practicing with example sentences and exercises, English learners can improve their grammar and avoid common mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the plural pronouns used to replace ‘it’?
When you replace “it” with a plural pronoun, you use “they” for subjects performing an action and “them” for objects receiving an action.
When is ‘they’ used as a plural for ‘it’?
You use ‘they’ as a plural for ‘it’ when referring to multiple objects or entities. For example, if ‘it’ refers to a book, then ‘they’ would refer to multiple books.
What is the plural form of nouns in English grammar?
In English grammar, the plural form of a noun is used to indicate that there is more than one of that noun. For example, the plural of “car” is “cars”.
How do I form the plural of regular English nouns?
To form the plural of regular English nouns, simply add an “s” to the end of the noun. For example, “dog” becomes “dogs” in the plural form.
Can you give me some examples of plural nouns?
Sure! Some examples of plural nouns include “dogs”, “cats”, “houses”, “cars”, “books”, and “pens”.
- Ed Words: Expand Your Vocabulary and Improve Your Writing! - April 15, 2024
- List of Ethnicities and Their Cultures from Around the World - April 2, 2024
- Mastering English Writing: Essential Transitional Words for Body Paragraphs - March 25, 2024