What is a Plural Noun? Definition, Examples of Plural Form

Plural definition: Plural form refers to a noun that includes more than one of a particular noun.

What is the Plural Form?

What does plural mean? Plural form is the non-singular form of nouns and pronouns. Plural form refers to more than one of a particular noun (whereas singular form refers to a single noun).

Examples of Plural Nouns

There are literally thousands of plural nouns, so we can’t exactly put an exhaustive list together, but here are a few examples of plural nouns in English.

  • trees
  • lakes
  • movies
  • umbrellas
  • candies
  • girls
  • snacks
  • burgers
  • computers
  • entries

Plural, Singular Forms of Nouns

which word is plural noun What is the plural form? Most nouns have singular and plural forms. The singular form of the noun refers to one noun. The plural form of the noun refers to more than one of a single type of noun.

For most nouns, “-s” is added to the end of the sentence to create the plural form.

  • dog > dogs
  • cat > cats

When the word ends in “-y,” the “-y” is dropped and “-ies” is added to the end of the word to create the plural form.

  • story > stories
  • butterfly > butterflies

Examples of Singular/Plural Nouns

  • tree/trees
  • lake/lakes
  • movie/movies
  • umbrella/umbrellas
  • candy/candies
  • girl/girls
  • snack/snacks

Count Nouns vs. Non-count Nouns

plural noun examples A count noun is a person, place, or thing that can have a singular or plural form. Most nouns have a singular and a plural form. Typically, by adding “s” to a noun, the plural form is made. A count noun can be counted.

  • apple/apples
  • bag/bags
  • thought/thoughts

A non-count noun is a person, place, or thing that do not have a plural form. In a sense, a non-count noun cannot be counted.

  • food
  • luggage
  • independence

Consider the last example, independence. The word independence cannot be made plural into “indepedences.”

Plural Agreement in Number

Plural nouns must appropriately agree agreement with all components in a sentence.

Plural Verb Agreement

definition plural Plural nouns require plural verbs. Using singular verbs with plural nouns (or vice versa) is unacceptable.

Examples with “to answer:”

  • I answer. (singular)
  • You answer. (singular and plural)
  • He/She/it answers. (singular)
  • We answer. (plural)
  • They answer. (plural)

It is grammatically incorrect to state: You answers.

Plural Demonstrative Adjectives

plural subject definition Plural nouns require plural demonstrative adjectives. Using singular demonstrative adjectives with plural nouns (or vice versa) is unacceptable.

Examples:

  • this pillow (singular)
  • that pillow (singular)
  • those pillows (plural)
  • these pillows (plural)

It is grammatically incorrect to state: this pillows

Plural Possessive Adjectives

meaning of plural Possessive adjectives work with both singular and plural nouns.

Examples singular/plural:

  • my bed/my beds
  • your bed/your beds (singular)
  • his/her/its bed AND his/her/its beds
  • our bed/our beds
  • your bed/your beds (plural)
  • their bed/their beds

Exercises with Singular, Plural forms

Fill in the blank with the appropriate verb or demonstrative adjective to pair with the plural or singular nouns.

  1. She showed me that/those painting.
  2. They will visit/visits the library tomorrow.
  3. Remember this/these instructions.
  4. John, did you buy/buys bananas at the store?
  5. I should pack that/those pants for my trip.

See answers below.

Summary: What is a Plural Noun?

Define plural noun: the definition of plural noun is the form of a word that refers to more than one person or thing.

In summary,

  • Plural nouns refer to more than one noun of a particular type.
  • Singular nouns refer to only one noun of a particular type.
  • Plural nouns must have correct agreement with their verbs and adjectives.

Answers:

  1. that
  2. visit
  3. these
  4. buy
  5. those

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