Plural
Plural means more than one, e.g., dogs is the plural of dog.
In general, plurals do not cause difficulties for native English speakers, but the rules for forming plurals are varied and errors do occur.
(See
Rules for Forming Plurals.)
Examples:
 I know several stories about him.
("stories": plural of story)
If you lift the rocks, you will find dozens of crabs.
("rocks": plural of rock)
("dozens": plural of dozen)
("crabs": plural of crab)
should be facilities
(advertisement in newspaper)
Save your pennys.
(Should be pennies - see
Rules for Forming Plurals.)
His possessions were 2 donkies, a goat and a few pans.
(Should be donkeys - see
Rules for Forming Plurals.)
Plurals of Foreign Words
Words "stolen" from other languages form their plurals in a variety of ways.
Examples:
stadium > stadia or stadiums
(Through common usage, the plural stadiums is acceptable too.)
datum > data
radius > radii or radiuses
(Through common usage, the plural radiuses is acceptable too.)
agendum > agenda
|
 |
NOT WITH AN APOSTROPHE
Never use an apostrophe before the final s when forming a plural (except in the rare circumstances shown at the bottom).
Using the new cutter, the team can lay 2 patio's in a day.
(should be patios)
As far as I am concerned, they are all hero's.
(should be heroes)
The block has 15
storey's.
(should be storeys 
stories  )
APOSTROPHE IN A PLURAL - RARE CIRCUMSTANCES
Using an apostrophe in a plural is the most common error regarding plurals. However, in the following circumstances, it is possible to use an apostrophe:
For the plural of written figures, letters, words and some abbreviations:
Alan achieved two B's and three C's.
(apostrophes not necessary, but accepted)
Your 2's look like your 7's.
(apostrophes not necessary, but accepted)
She used too many and's in her
writing.
(apostrophes not necessary, but accepted)
The were 3 COS's at the meeting.
(apostrophes not necessary, but accepted)
(COS - Chief of Staff)
This is also covered in the lesson Apostrophes
to Show Plurals.
|
 |
 |
SINGLE OR PLURAL?
Criteria is a plural word, from criterion.
The criteria are non-negotiable.
The criteria is non-negotiable.
Although agenda and data are plural words too (from agendum and datum), it is acceptable to treat them like singular words nowadays.
Today's agenda is pinned on the notice board.
Today's agenda are pinned on the notice board.
My data was corrupted by the power surge.
My data were corrupted by the power surge.
|
|
Please tell us
You can ask us
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
reddit
Stumble