Pluralul substantivelor
In limba engleza substantivele pot fi de numarul singular sau plural.
De regula, singularul coincide cu forma de baza a unui substantiv: answer (raspuns), partner (partener),
hotel (hotel)
A. The countable nouns
PLURALUL REGULAT (regular plurals)
1. Pentru a forma pluralul substantivelor se adauga consoana S la forma de singular:
ex: answer+s = answers (raspunsuri)
partner+s = partners (parteneri)
hotel+s = hotels (hoteluri)
2. Substantivele terminate in: CH, O, SH, X, S, SS formeaza pluralul prin adaugarea particulei ES :
ex: bunch+es = bunches (buchete) / sandwich+es = sandwiches (sandvici)
tomato+es = tomatoes (rosii) / potato+es = potatoes (cartofi)
wash+es = washes (spalari)
tax + es = taxes (taxe) / box+es = boxes (cutii)
bus+es = buses
congress + es = congresses (congrese) / dress+es = dresses (haine)
Exceptii: Unele substantive terminate in O formeaza prin adaugarea unui S a formei de singular.
ex: piano=pianos(pian=piane), soprano=sopranos(soprana=saprane),
radio=radios(radio=radiouri), video=videos (video=videouri),
photo=photos (fotografie=fotografii)
3. Unele substantive terminate in F sau FE vor forma pluralul in VES.
ex: wife-wives (sotii), scarf-scarves (esarfe), shelf-shelves (rafturi), wolf-wolves (lupi),
leaf-leaves (frunze)
Exceptii: handkerchief-handkerchiefs (batiste), gulf-gulfs (golfuri),
wharf-wharfs-wharves (cheiuri), proof-proofs (dovezi)
4. Substantivele terminate in consoana Y (precedate de o consoana) formeaza pluralul in IES.
ex: pony-ponies (ponei), melody-melodies (melodii),
baby-babies (bebelusi), cry-cries (plinsete)
5. Substantivele terminate in consoana Y (precedate de o vocala) formeaza pluralul in S.
ex: monkey-monkeys (maimute), boy-boys (baieti)
PLURALUL NEREGULAT (Irregular plurals)
Cateva substantive formeaza pluralul prin schimbarea unei vocale interne.
ex: man-men (barbati) tooth-teeth (dinti)
mouse-mice (soareci) child-children (copii)
foot-feet (picioare) policeman-policemen (politisti)
congresman-congresmen (congrasmeni) police woman-police women (politiste)
Unele substantive provenite din limba latina pastreaza formele de plural din aceasta limba.
ex: criterion-criteria (criterii), phenomenon-phenomena (fenomene),
alga-algae (alge), gymanasium-gymnasia (sali de gimnastica)
Substantive ce se folosesc numai la singular, desi au forma de plural:
- nume de stiinte si obiecte de studiu terminate in -ics: Mathematics, Economics,
Accoustics (acustica)
- nume de boli: mumps (oreion)
Nu primesc terminatie de plural substantivele abstracte ca : advice (sfat),
information (informatie), sau concrete ca : bread (paine), chocolate (ciocolata), meat (carne)-
acestea se folosesc cu a piece of: a piece of information (o informatie), a piece of meat (o bucata de
carne), a loaf of : a loaf of bread (o paine), a bar of : a bar of chocolate (o bucata de ciocolata).
Unele substantive nu isi schimba forma la plural
ex: deer (caprioare), series (serii), sheep (oi), species (specii)
PLURALUL SUBSTANTIVELOR COMPUSE (The plural of the compound nouns)
In cazul substantivelor compuse din alte doua substantive, numai ultimul cuvant va trece la
plural.
ex: grape-fruits (fructe de grepfrut), cofee-spoons (lingurite), travel offices (oficii de turism), girl- friends
(prietenele), water-lilies (nuferi)
exceptii : substantivele compuse al caror prim element este man sau woman vor primi semnul pluralului
ex: women drivers (soferite), men servants (servitori)
Substantivelor compuse din constructii de genul substantiv +prepozitie / adverb +substantiv,
substantivul de baza va primi semnul pluralului
ex: fathers -in-law (socri), daughters-in-law (nurori), lilies-of-the-valley (lacramioare)
Abrevierile sau initialele vor forma pluralul prin adaugarea un s
ex: MDs (Doctors of Medicine- Doctori in medicina)
MCs (Masters of Ceremony- Maestri in ceromonii)
B. SUBSTANTIVELE UNICE (The uncountable nouns)
Substantivele unice nu se pot numara (uncountable) deoarece reprezinta fie notiuni abstracte, fie
unicate, obiecte puternic individualizate.
Notiuni abstracte : friendship (prietenie), chemistry (chimie), hell (iad), nature (natura), the past
(trecutul), information (informatie), life (viata), help (ajutor), solitude (singuratate), knowledge
(stiinta), love (iubire)
Nume de substante: mud (noroi), milk (lapte), cofee (cafea), bronze (bronz), gravel (pietris)
food
Alte substantive, provenite in special din forma in-ing a verbelor: luggage (bagaj), shopping
(cumparaturi), reading (lectura), mourning (doliu)
Substantivele unice sunt intodeaunala singular si sunt folosite cu un verb la singular:
ex: This soup is good. (Aceasta supa este buna)
This information is useful. (Aceasta informatie este folositoare)
In general aceste substantive nu sunt precedate de articolul nehotarat a/an.
Pentru a exprima o unitate din aceste substantive se folosesc:
no (nici o, nici un), some (ceva), any (vreo, vreun), a little (un pic de), a bit of (putin), a pice of (o bucata
de), a slice of (o felie de), etc.
ex: I need some wine. (Am nevoie de niste vin)
I don't want any coffee. (Nu vreau cafea)
Totusi, cand implicit se face referire la recipientul ce contine respectivele substante, aceste substantive se
pot folosi cu a/an:
I would like a coffee. (a cup of coffee) - As vrea o cafea (o ceasca de cafea)
I drank a verry good brandy last night. (a glass of brandy)- Am baut un lichior foarte bun aseara. (un pahar
de lichior)
Quantifiers
Much si many
Much = mult, multa, se foloseste pentru singular.
Many = multi, multe, se foloseste pentru plural.
much noise = mult zgomot, multa galagie
many toys = multe jucarii
In conversatie se prefera folosirea expresiei sinonimice a lot of in propozitiile afirmative si a adjectivelor
much si many in cele interogative si negative.
