Are you struggling with the plural of this in English? You’re not alone! Many English learners find themselves confused when it comes to forming plurals, especially with irregular nouns. In this article, we’ll dive into the concept of plurals and explore the rules for forming them, including the plural of “this.”
Understanding the concept of plurals is crucial for anyone learning English grammar. Plurals are used to indicate that there is more than one of something. In English, we typically form plurals by adding an “s” to the end of a noun. However, there are many exceptions to this rule, which can make things tricky. For example, some nouns require a change in spelling, while others don’t change at all.
Plural of This
Definition and Plural of This
When we refer to “this,” we are referring to a singular object or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought, or that has just been mentioned. It is a pronoun that is used to indicate something specific.
The plural form of “this” is “these,” which is used to refer to multiple objects or ideas that are present or near in place, time, or thought, or that have just been mentioned. For example, if you are holding two books, you would say “these books,” instead of “this books.”
It is important to note that “this” is a singular pronoun and cannot be used to refer to multiple objects or ideas. Using “this” to refer to multiple objects or ideas is grammatically incorrect and can lead to confusion. It is always important to use the correct plural form when referring to multiple objects or ideas.
When to Use This and Plural of This
When using the word “this” to refer to a singular object, it is important to use the plural form “these” when referring to multiple objects. This helps to avoid confusion and ensure clarity in communication.
For example, if you are in a store and want to purchase multiple shirts, you would say “I want to buy these shirts” instead of “I want to buy this shirts”.
It is also important to note that the plural form of “this” can be used in a variety of contexts, but only with countable nouns. For example, you can say “these apples” or “these water bottles” to refer to multiple countable objects.
In addition to using the correct plural form of “this”, it is also important to use the appropriate verb agreement. When using “these” with countable nouns, use the plural form of the verb, such as “these apples are delicious”. When using “these” with uncountable and singular nouns, use the singular form of the verb, such as “this water is refreshing”.
Examples of This and Plural of This in Sentences
When it comes to using the plural form of “this,” it’s important to understand the context in which you are using it. In most cases, “this” is used to refer to a single object or idea, while the plural form “these” is used to refer to multiple objects or ideas.
Here are some examples of “this” and its plural form “these” in sentences:
- This is my favorite book. (referring to a single book)
- These are my favorite books. (referring to multiple books)
- This is a great idea. (referring to a single idea)
- These are great ideas. (referring to multiple ideas)
- This is the best pizza I’ve ever had. (referring to a single pizza)
- These are the best pizzas I’ve ever had. (referring to multiple pizzas)
As you can see, the use of “this” and “these” can greatly affect the meaning of a sentence, so it’s important to use the correct form based on the number of objects or ideas being referred to.
It’s also worth noting that “this” and “these” can be used as pronouns, as well as determiners. For example:
- This is what I was talking about. (referring to a single object or idea)
- These are the things I need to buy. (referring to multiple objects or ideas)
In these cases, “this” and “these” are used to replace a noun that has already been mentioned or is understood based on the context of the sentence.
Plural Noun Rules for Regular Nouns
When it comes to making regular nouns plural, there are some basic rules you can follow. Regular plurals are formed by adding an -s or -es to the end of the singular word. Let’s take a look at some of the most common rules for forming plural nouns:
- Add -s to the end of the word: Most singular nouns can be made plural by adding an -s to the end of the word. For example, the word “book” becomes “books” in its plural form.
- Add -es to the end of the word: If a singular noun ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, we add -es to the end of the word to make it plural. For example, the word “box” becomes “boxes” in its plural form.
- Add -ies to the end of the word: If a singular noun ends in a consonant followed by a y, we change the y to an i and add -es to make it plural. For example, the word “baby” becomes “babies” in its plural form.
- Add -ves to the end of the word: If a singular noun ends in f or fe, we change the f or fe to a v and add -es to make it plural. For example, the word “knife” becomes “knives” in its plural form.
- Add -s or -es to the end of the word: For words ending in o, there are no hard and fast rules. Some words take just -s, others take -es. For example, the word “potato” becomes “potatoes” in its plural form.
Remember, irregular nouns do not follow these rules, so they must be memorized or looked up in the dictionary.
Plural Noun Rules for Irregular Nouns
When it comes to forming the plural of irregular nouns, there are no hard and fast rules to follow. However, there are some common patterns that you can recognize to help you form the plural of these nouns correctly. In this section, we will explore some of the most common patterns for forming the plural of irregular nouns.
List of Common Irregular Plural Nouns
Here is a list of some of the most common irregular plural nouns in English:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
|---|---|
| child | children |
| foot | feet |
| goose | geese |
| man | men |
| mouse | mice |
| tooth | teeth |
| woman | women |
Nouns That End in Us
Some nouns that end in “us” form their plural by changing the “us” to “i”. Here are some examples:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
|---|---|
| cactus | cacti |
| focus | foci |
| nucleus | nuclei |
| radius | radii |
Nouns That End in Is
Some nouns that end in “is” form their plural by changing the “is” to “es”. Here are some examples:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
|---|---|
| analysis | analyses |
| basis | bases |
| crisis | crises |
| thesis | theses |
Nouns That End in On
Some nouns that end in “on” form their plural by changing the “on” to “a”. Here are some examples:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
|---|---|
| criterion | criteria |
| phenomenon | phenomena |
Plurals That Are the Same as Singulars
Some nouns have the same form for both singular and plural. Here are some examples:
| Singular and Plural Noun |
|---|
| deer |
| fish |
| sheep |
Words That Look Like Plural Nouns but Are Singular Nouns
Some nouns look like they are plural, but they are actually singular. Here are some examples:
| Singular Noun | Plural-Looking Noun |
|---|---|
| news | – |
| physics | – |
| politics | – |
Collective Nouns: Explanation and List
Collective nouns are words that refer to a group of people, animals, or things as a single entity. These nouns are singular in form but represent a group of individuals. Collective nouns can be confusing because they can be used as either singular or plural, depending on the context.
Here are some examples of collective nouns:
| Collective Noun | Definition |
|---|---|
| Audience | A group of people who are watching a performance or event |
| Flock | A group of birds, especially sheep or goats |
| Herd | A group of cattle, horses, or other grazing animals |
| Pack | A group of wild animals, such as wolves or dogs |
| Swarm | A large group of insects, such as bees or ants |
| Team | A group of people who work together to achieve a common goal |
It is important to note that collective nouns can be either countable or uncountable. Countable collective nouns refer to a group of individuals that can be counted, while uncountable collective nouns refer to a group of individuals that cannot be counted.
Plural Nouns vs. Possessive Nouns
When it comes to pluralizing nouns, it’s important to understand the difference between plural and possessive nouns. Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, or thing, while possessive nouns indicate ownership or a direct connection to something.
To form the plural of most nouns, simply add an ‘s’ to the end of the word. For example, “book” becomes “books” and “cat” becomes “cats.” However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as nouns ending in ‘s’, ‘x’, ‘z’, ‘ch’, or ‘sh’, which require an ‘es’ to form the plural. For example, “box” becomes “boxes” and “church” becomes “churches.”
On the other hand, possessive nouns are formed by adding an apostrophe and an ‘s’ to the end of a singular noun, or just an apostrophe to the end of a plural noun that already ends in ‘s’. For example, “dog” becomes “dog’s” and “cats” becomes “cats’.”
It’s important to note that possessive nouns are not the same as plural nouns. While both can end in an ‘s’, possessive nouns indicate ownership or a direct connection to something, while plural nouns simply refer to more than one person, place, or thing.
Here’s a quick summary of the differences between plural and possessive nouns:
| Plural Nouns | Possessive Nouns |
|---|---|
| Indicate more than one person, place, or thing | Indicate ownership or a direct connection to something |
| Formed by adding an ‘s’ to the end of the word (or ‘es’ for some exceptions) | Formed by adding an apostrophe and an ‘s’ to the end of a singular noun, or just an apostrophe to the end of a plural noun that already ends in ‘s’ |
| Examples: books, cats, dogs | Examples: dog’s, cat’s, children’s |
Common Mistakes with Plural Nouns
When it comes to pluralizing words, there are some common mistakes that many people make. Here are a few of them:
Adding an “s” to “this”
One common mistake is to add an “s” to “this” to make it plural. For example, you might say “I have two this” instead of “I have two of these.” Remember that “this” is a singular pronoun, and it should not be used as a plural.
Irregular plurals
Another common mistake is to use the wrong plural form for irregular nouns. For example, you might say “childs” instead of “children,” or “mouses” instead of “mice.” Make sure you learn the correct plural forms for irregular nouns.
Countable and uncountable nouns
Countable and uncountable nouns also have different rules for pluralization. Countable nouns can be made plural by adding an “s,” while uncountable nouns do not have a plural form. For example, “water” is an uncountable noun, so you would not say “waters.”
Using the wrong verb form
Finally, make sure you use the correct verb form when talking about plural nouns. For example, you might say “there is two dogs” instead of “there are two dogs.” Remember to use the plural form of the verb when talking about more than one noun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plural form of ‘this’?
The plural form of ‘this’ is ‘these.’ ‘This’ is used to refer to a singular object or person, while ‘these’ is used to refer to multiple objects or people.
Can a noun be both singular and plural?
Yes, some nouns have the same form for both the singular and plural. Examples include “deer,” “sheep,” and “fish.”
Can a noun be plural without adding -s or -es?
Yes, some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow the -s or -es rule. Examples include “goose” (geese), “mouse” (mice), and “person” (people).
How do you know whether to use a singular or plural verb with a noun?
The verb should agree with the subject noun in number. If the subject is singular, use a singular verb. If the subject is plural, use a plural verb. For example, “The dog barks” (singular subject) and “The dogs bark” (plural subject).
Can a noun be both countable and uncountable?
Yes, some nouns can be both countable and uncountable, depending on the context. For example, “water” can be uncountable (as in “I need some water”) or countable (as in “I drank three waters”).
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