Page 19 - Grammar Class 08

G A noun that shows more than one person, place or thing is called a plural number .
For example: boys, girls, chairs, books, etc.
There are some nouns which have the same form as singular and plural; as –

a deer– five deer a fish– four fish

a sheep– ten sheep a species– three species

Nouns Always Plural

There are nouns that are always considered as plural rather than singular. So, they have
only plural forms.
Read the following examples:

trousers jeans tongs people
police poultry remains thanks

pants scissors compasses pincers
refreshments premises pliers vermin

ashes troops shears spectacles
goods gentry expenses

From the above examples, it can be concluded that countable nouns are nouns that can
be quantified or counted with a number.

Whether a Noun Needs a Determiner Before It or Not?

G When a countable noun is used in singular form, a determiner is used before it.

Read the following examples:
1. He got into his car and started it.

2. They cleaned their house and went into it.

G Normally, countable plural nouns do not take determiners before them.
Read the following examples:

1. Our country has big hills and mountains.
2. Most mountains have snowcapped peaks.

But, if something special is linked with a plural noun, we use a determiner before it.
Read the following examples:

1. The trees in this forest are very tall.
2. These apples are of fine quality.

Whether a Noun Needs a Singular or a Plural Verb?
Most collective nouns are used in two ways to give different meanings. They take a

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Grammar
Grammar-8-8