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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is an example of a regular plural noun?
Which of these plural nouns does not follow the regular pattern of adding 's' to form the plural?
How are plural nouns ending in '-ies' typically formed?
When are regular plural nouns not required to use an article?
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Which of the following is an example of an irregular plural noun?
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How are plural nouns ending in '-es' typically formed?
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Which of the following plural nouns does not require an article when used in a general or nonspecific way?
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What is the correct plural form of the noun 'child'?
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Which of the following pairs of nouns correctly form their plural by adding '-ies'?
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In which case would an article not be needed when referring to the noun in its plural form?
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Which of the following plural forms does not require an article when used generally or nonspecifically?
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What is the correct plural form of the noun 'mouse'?
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Study Notes
English Plural Nouns
In English, plurals are the forms of nouns that indicate more than one of something. Depending on their structure, plural nouns may or may not use articles in certain contexts. This section will discuss four types of plural nouns and their corresponding articles: regular plural nouns, irregular plural nouns, plural nouns ending in "-ies", and plural nouns ending in "-es."
Regular Plural Nouns
Regular plural nouns typically form the plural by adding an "s" to the end of the noun. For example:
- One horse → Two horses
- One child → Two children These regular plural nouns do not require an article when they are used in a general or nonspecific way. For example:
- I bought new pens and pencils at the store. (general, not specific ones)
- Cats have big eyes that can see in the dark. (cats in general, all of them)
- Babies cry a lot. (babies in general, all of them)
Irregular Plural Nouns
Irregular plural nouns do not follow the regular pattern of adding an "s" to the end of the noun. For example:
- One tooth → Two teeth
- One mouse → Two mice These irregular plural nouns also do not require an article when used in a general or nonspecific way. For example:
- My sister lost her two front teeth and had to have braces.
- The mouse ran away from the cat.
Plural Nouns Ending in "-ies"
Plural nouns ending in "-ies" typically add an "s" to the end of the noun to form the plural. For example:
- One series → Two series
- One crisis → Two crises These plural nouns ending in "-ies" do not require an article when they are used in a general or nonspecific way. For example:
- The series was very entertaining.
- The crises in the Middle East have been ongoing for years.
Plural Nouns Ending in "-es"
Plural nouns ending in "-es" also typically add an "s" to the end of the noun to form the plural. For example:
- One police → Two police
- One staple → Two staples These plural nouns ending in "-es" do not require an article when they are used in a general or nonspecific way. For example:
- The police were able to apprehend the suspect.
- I need to buy more staples for my work.
In summary, regular plural nouns, irregular plural nouns, and plural nouns ending in "-ies" or "-es" do not require an article when used in a general or nonspecific way. The use of articles depends on the specific reference being made and whether the noun is singular or plural, countable or uncountable.
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Description
Test your knowledge on regular plural nouns, irregular plural nouns, plural nouns ending in "-ies", and plural nouns ending in "-es" in English. Learn when to use articles with different types of plural nouns in various contexts.
