NOUNS AND KINDS OF NOUNS

Noun : Number
Number is that grammatical entity that tells us about the fact if the noun is just one or more
than one.
Types of Number
(i) Singular
If the noun is just one in number, it is singular, e.g. cow, boy, place, radio etc.
(ii) Plural
If the noun is more than one, it is plural, e.g. cows, boys, places, radios etc.
Rules for Changing the Singular into Plural

Rule 1 by changing ‘y’ to ‘i’ and adding ‘-es’.

Nouns that end with a consonant are Fly – Flies
made plural by adding ‘-s’ to the singular. Story – Stories
Parrot – Parrots Baby – Babies
Egg – Eggs Family – Families
Boat – Boats Copy – Copies
Actor – Actors Library – Libraries
Cook – Cooks
Hat – Hats
Rule 5
Nouns that end with -y and there is a
Rule 2 vowel before -y, then plural is made by
Nouns that end with -s, -ss, -ch pluralised adding ‘-s’.
by adding ‘-es’. Boy – Boys
Bus – Buses Day – Days
Glass – Glasses Key – Keys
Bench – Benches Way – Ways
Bush – Bushes Toy – Toys
Quiz – Quizzes Essay – Essays
Tax – Taxes
Rule 6
Exception Nouns that end with double vowel are
Stomach – Stomachs pluralised by adding ‘-s’.
Monarch – Monarchs Tree – Trees
Bee – Bees
Zoo – Zoos
Rule 3
Radio – Radios
Nouns that end with -o and there is a
Portfolio – Portfolios
consonant before -o then plural is made
by adding ‘-es’.
Tomato – Tomatoes Exception
Mosquito – Mosquitoes Roof Roofs
Mango – Mangoes
Hero – Heroes

Exception
Rule 7
Photo – Photos
Some nouns are pluralised by the change
Zero – Zeros
in their inside vowel.
Tooth – Teeth
Rule 4 Foot – Feet
Nouns that end with -y and there is a Mouse – Mice
consonant before -y, then plural is made Man – Men
Rule 8 Pea-cock Pea-cocks – Passer-by
Nouns that end with -f or -fe pluralised by Passers-by
adding ‘-es’ after -f or -fe is changed to ‘-
v’.
Exception
Knife – Knives
Man-servant – Men-servants
Thief – Thieves
Lord-justice – Lord-justices
Wife – Wives
Life – Lives
Chief – Chiefs Rule 10
Proof – Proofs Nouns that end with ‘-man’ are made
Scarf – Scarfs/Scarves plural
changing ‘-man’ into ‘-men’.
Woman – Women
Rule 9
Postman – Postmen
Compound nouns are pluralised by adding
Watchman – Watchmen
‘-s’ to the principal word.
Chairman – Chairmen
Step-son – Step-sons
Milkman – Milkmen
Brother-in-law – Brothers-in-law
Fellowman – Fellowmen

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Types of Gender
Noun : Gender
Gender of a noun denotes the difference they have in terms of their sex.
1. Masculine Gender that denotes male sex.
e.g. Boy, Horse, Father
2. Feminine Gender that denotes female sex. e.g. Girl, Mare, Mother
3. Common Gender that denotes either sex.
e.g. Doctor, Teacher, Child
4. Neuter Gender that denotes neuter things or non-living things.
e.g. Pen, Table, Glass

Rules for Changing Masculine into Feminine

Rule 1 feminine by using a completely different

Masculine can be changed into feminine word.
by adding ‘-ess’. Actor – Actress
Poet – Poetess Editor – Editress
Lion – Lioness
Host – Hostess
Rule 3
Giant – Giantess
King – Queen
Hero – Heroine
Exception Uncle – Aunt
God – Goddess Husband – Wife

Rule 2 Rule 4
In some nouns,- ending in ‘r’, after Feminine of the compound nouns are
Masculine can be changed into feminine made by changing the masculine word of
by adding ‘-ess’ removing the ‘vowel’ the compound noun that comes to the
before the last letter. front.
Tiger – Tigress She-bear – He-bear
Monitor – Monitress Cow-calf – Bull-calf
Masculine can be changed into the
She-goat – He-goat Exception
Daughter-in-law – Son-in-law Duke – Duke

Rule 5 Rule 6
Feminine of some masculine are made by Compound nouns change their gender by
removing the last vowel and consonant changing masculine word into feminine
and then by adding ‘-ess’. coming later.
Governor – Governess Headmaster – Headmistress
Murderer – Murderess Grandfather – Grandmother
Milkman – Milkmaid
Peacock – Peahen

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WORKSHEET
Make the plurals of the nouns given below.
1. Owl 9. Lady
2. Prime Minister 10. Dwarf
3. Goat 11. Farmer
4. Brush 12. Queen
5. Key 13. Step-son
6. Negro 14. Louse
7. Kiss 15. Cargo
8. Dish

Fill in the blanks using the opposite gender of the noun given in the bracket.
1. She likes the ………… of this movie. (hero)
2. It is a ritual to ride a ………….. during the wedding procession. (horse)
3. Farmers keep the …………. for the production of egg. (cock)
4. The …………. didn’t respond to the call, (waitress)
5. The …………. killed the wild beast easily. (huntress)
6. A …………… can give birth to four puppies, (dog)
7. Life for a ………….. is luxurious. (queen)
8. The ………….. presented his poems. (poetess)
9. Katrina is a beautiful …………… (actor)
10. The …………. delivers milk to us daily, (milkman)