Chapter 4: Nouns
Objectives
• Recognize four kinds of nouns.
• Spell troublesome plural nouns
ending in y, o, and f.
• Form the plurals of compound
nouns, numerals, letters, degrees,
and abbreviations.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 2
Chapter 4: Nouns
• Recognize and use correctly foreign
plural nouns and selected special
nouns.
• Use plural personal titles
appropriately.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 3
What are nouns?
Nouns are words or groups of words
that name persons, places, things,
qualities, concepts, or events.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 4
Kinds of Nouns
• Concrete Nouns
jeep
tangerine
canyon
• Abstract Nouns
loyalty
aspiration
freedom
• Common Nouns
roller coaster
dog
copier
• Proper Nouns
The Wild Thing German shepherd
Xerox
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 5
Basic Plurals
• Singular nouns name one person,
place, thing, concept, quality, or
event.
• Plural nouns name two or more
persons, places, things, concepts,
qualities, or events.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 6
Basic Plurals
• Most regular nouns form the
plural with the addition of s.
boat
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 7
Basic Plurals
• Most regular nouns form the
plural with the addition of s.
boat + s
=
boats
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 8
Basic Plurals
• Most regular nouns form the
plural with the addition of s.
boat + s
=
boats
Clark
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 9
Basic Plurals
• Most regular nouns form the
plural with the addition of s.
boat + s
=
boats
Clark + s
=
Clarks
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 10
Basic Plurals
• Nouns ending in sh, ch, s, x,
or z add es.
bush
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 11
Basic Plurals
• Nouns ending in sh, ch, s, x,
or z add es.
bush + es = bushes
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 12
Basic Plurals
• Nouns ending in sh, ch, s, x,
or z add es.
bush + es = bushes
Fox
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 13
Basic Plurals
• Nouns ending in sh, ch, s, x,
or z add es.
bush + es = bushes
Fox
+ es = Foxes
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 14
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 15
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
>
men
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 16
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
>
men
foot
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 17
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
>
men
foot
>
feet
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 18
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
>
men
foot
>
feet
mouse
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 19
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
>
men
foot
>
feet
mouse
>
mice
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 20
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
>
men
foot
>
feet
mouse
>
mice
child
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 21
Basic Plurals
• Irregular nouns form the plural
by changing the spelling of the
word.
man
>
men
foot
>
feet
mouse
>
mice
child
>
children
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 22
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 23
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
houses
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 24
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
houses
Nash
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 25
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
houses
Nash
Nashes
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 26
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
Nash
houses
Nashes
tax
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 27
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
Nash
houses
Nashes
tax
taxes
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 28
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
Nash
tax
houses
Nashes
taxes
woman
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 29
Check your skill . . .
How would you make these nouns
plural?
house
Nash
tax
houses
Nashes
taxes
woman
women
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 30
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in y
• When y is preceded by a vowel (a, e,
i, o, u), add s only.
valley
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 31
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in y
• When y is preceded by a vowel (a, e,
i, o, u), add s only.
valley + s = valleys
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 32
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in y
• When y is preceded by a vowel (a, e,
i, o, u), add s only.
valley + s = valleys
attorney
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 33
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in y
• When y is preceded by a vowel (a, e,
i, o, u), add s only.
valley + s = valleys
attorney + s = attorneys
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 34
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in y
• When y is preceded by a vowel (a, e,
i, o, u), add s only.
valley + s = valleys
attorney + s = attorneys
Garvey
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 35
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in y
• When y is preceded by a vowel (a, e,
i, o, u), add s only.
valley + s = valleys
attorney + s = attorneys
Garvey + s =
Garveys
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 36
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When y is preceded by a consonant,
change the y to i and add es.
luxury
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 37
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When y is preceded by a consonant,
change the y to i and add es.
luxur(y) i + es
=
luxuries
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 38
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When y is preceded by a consonant,
change the y to i and add es.
luxur(y) i + es
=
luxuries
company
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 39
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When y is preceded by a consonant,
change the y to i and add es.
luxur(y) i + es
=
compan(y) i + es
luxuries
=
companies
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 40
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When y is preceded by a consonant,
change the y to i and add es.
• However, this rule does not apply to
proper nouns.
Kelly
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 41
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When y is preceded by a consonant,
change the y to i and add es.
• However, this rule does not apply to
proper nouns.
Kelly + s = Kellys
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 42
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in f or fe
• No standard rule applies.
• Study the following examples and
use a dictionary when in doubt.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 43
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Add s
cliff
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 44
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Add s
cliff + s
=
cliffs
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 45
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Add s
cliff + s
Wolf
=
cliffs
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 46
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Add s
cliff + s
=
cliffs
Wolf + s
=
Wolfs (people)
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 47
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Change fe or f to ves
wife
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 48
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Change fe or f to ves
wife
>
wives
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 49
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Change fe or f to ves
wife
shelf
>
wives
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 50
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Change fe or f to ves
wife
shelf
>
>
wives
shelves
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 51
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Change fe or f to ves
wife
shelf
wolf
>
>
wives
shelves
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 52
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Change fe or f to ves
wife
shelf
wolf
>
>
>
wives
shelves
wolves (animals)
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 53
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in o
• When o is preceded by a vowel, add s
only.
studio
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 54
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in o
• When o is preceded by a vowel, add s
only.
studio + s = studios
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 55
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in o
• When o is preceded by a vowel, add s
only.
studio + s = studios
curio
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 56
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Nouns ending in o
• When o is preceded by a vowel, add s
only.
studio + s = studios
curio + s = curios
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 57
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When o is preceded by a consonant,
add s or es (no rule applies).
auto
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 58
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When o is preceded by a consonant,
add s or es (no rule applies).
auto + s = autos
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 59
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When o is preceded by a consonant,
add s or es (no rule applies).
auto + s = autos
veto
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 60
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When o is preceded by a consonant,
add s or es (no rule applies).
auto + s = autos
veto + es = vetoes
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 61
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When o is preceded by a consonant,
add s or es (no rule applies).
auto + s = autos
veto + es = vetoes
potato
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 62
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• When o is preceded by a consonant,
add s or es (no rule applies).
auto + s = autos
veto + es = vetoes
potato + es = potatoes
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 63
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Musical terms ending in o are always
made plural with the addition of s only.
alto
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 64
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Musical terms ending in o are always
made plural with the addition of s only.
alto + s = altos
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 65
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Musical terms ending in o are always
made plural with the addition of s only.
alto + s = altos
piano
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 66
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Musical terms ending in o are always
made plural with the addition of s only.
alto + s = altos
piano + s = pianos
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 67
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Compound Nouns
• For compound nouns written as a
single word, make the final element
plural.
workman
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 68
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Compound Nouns
• For compound nouns written as a
single word, make the final element
plural.
workman
>
workmen
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 69
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• For hyphenated or open compound
nouns, make the principal word plural.
mother-in-law
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 70
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• For hyphenated or open compound
nouns, make the principal word plural.
mother-in-law
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 71
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• For hyphenated or open compound
nouns, make the principal word plural.
mother-in-law
>
mothers-in-law
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 72
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• For hyphenated or open compound
nouns, make the principal word plural.
mother-in-law
editor in chief
>
mothers-in-law
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 73
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• For hyphenated or open compound
nouns, make the principal word plural.
mother-in-law
editor in chief
>
mothers-in-law
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 74
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• For hyphenated or open compound
nouns, make the principal word plural.
mother-in-law
editor in chief
>
>
mothers-in-law
editors in chief
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 75
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Numerals and Letters of the Alphabet
• Numerals and uppercase letters add s to
form the plural.
2000
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 76
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Numerals and Letters of the Alphabet
• Numerals and uppercase letters add s to
form the plural.
2000 + s = 2000s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 77
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Numerals and Letters of the Alphabet
• Numerals and uppercase letters add s to
form the plural.
2000 + s = 2000s
W-2
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 78
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Numerals and Letters of the Alphabet
• Numerals and uppercase letters add s to
form the plural.
2000 + s = 2000s
W-2 + s = W-2s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 79
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Numerals and Letters of the Alphabet
• Numerals and uppercase letters add s to
form the plural.
2000 + s = 2000s
W-2 + s = W-2s
B and C
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 80
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Numerals and Letters of the Alphabet
• Numerals and uppercase letters add s to
form the plural.
2000 + s = 2000s
W-2 + s = W-2s
B and C + s = Bs and Cs
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 81
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Isolated Words
• Isolated words used as nouns add s
or es to form the plural, depending
on pronunciation.
pro and con
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 82
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Isolated Words
• Isolated words used as nouns add s
or es to form the plural, depending
on pronunciation.
pro and con
>
pros and cons
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 83
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Isolated Words
• Isolated words used as nouns add s
or es to form the plural, depending
on pronunciation.
pro and con
in and out
>
pros and cons
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 84
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Isolated Words
• Isolated words used as nouns add s
or es to form the plural, depending
on pronunciation.
pro and con
in and out
>
>
pros and cons
ins and outs
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 85
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Isolated Words
• Isolated words used as nouns add s
or es to form the plural, depending
on pronunciation.
pro and con
in and out
yes
>
>
pros and cons
ins and outs
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 86
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Isolated Words
• Isolated words used as nouns add s
or es to form the plural, depending
on pronunciation.
pro and con
in and out
yes
>
>
>
pros and cons
ins and outs
yeses
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 87
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Degrees
• Degrees add s to form the plural.
A.A.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 88
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Degrees
• Degrees add s to form the plural.
A.A. + s
=
A.A.s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 89
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Degrees
• Degrees add s to form the plural.
A.A. + s
B.A.
=
A.A.s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 90
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Degrees
• Degrees add s to form the plural.
A.A. + s
B.A. + s
=
=
A.A.s
B.A.s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 91
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Lowercase/Uppercase Letters
• Isolated lowercase letters and
uppercase letters A, I, M, and U use
’s for clarity in forming plurals.
p and q
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 92
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Lowercase/Uppercase Letters
• Isolated lowercase letters and
uppercase letters A, I, M, and U use
’s for clarity in forming plurals.
p and q + ’s
=
p’s and q’s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 93
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Lowercase/Uppercase Letters
• Isolated lowercase letters and
uppercase letters A, I, M, and U use
’s for clarity in forming plurals.
p and q + ’s
=
p’s and q’s
A
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 94
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Lowercase/Uppercase Letters
• Isolated lowercase letters and
uppercase letters A, I, M, and U use
’s for clarity in forming plurals.
p and q + ’s
=
p’s and q’s
A + ’s
=
A’s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 95
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Abbreviations
• Usually add s to form the plural.
yr.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 96
Troublesome Noun Plurals
Abbreviations
• Usually add s to form the plural.
yr. + s = yrs.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 97
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Some units of measurement are
identical in singular and plural form.
ft.
in.
deg.
oz.
=
=
=
=
foot or feet
inch or inches
degree or degrees
ounce or ounces
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 98
Troublesome Noun Plurals
• Some units of measurement have
two plural forms.
either lb. or lbs.
either yd. or yds.
either qt. or qts.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 99
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 100
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
=
secretaries
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 101
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
knife
=
secretaries
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 102
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
knife
=
=
secretaries
knives
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 103
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
knife
Sunday
=
=
secretaries
knives
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 104
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
knife
Sunday
=
=
=
secretaries
knives
Sundays
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 105
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
knife
Sunday
editor in chief
=
=
=
secretaries
knives
Sundays
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 106
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following
terms plural?
secretary
knife
Sunday
editor in chief
=
=
=
=
secretaries
knives
Sundays
editors in chief
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 107
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 108
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
= CPAs
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 109
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
= CPAs
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 110
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
= CPAs
= 2000s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 111
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
x and o
= CPAs
= 2000s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 112
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
x and o
= CPAs
= 2000s
= x’s and o’s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 113
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
x and o
attorney general
= CPAs
= 2000s
= x’s and o’s
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 114
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
x and o
attorney general
=
=
=
=
CPAs
2000s
x’s and o’s
attorneys general
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 115
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
x and o
attorney general
=
=
=
=
CPAs
2000s
x’s and o’s
attorneys general
or
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 116
Check your skill . . .
How would you make the following terms
plural?
CPA
2000
x and o
attorney general
=
=
=
=
CPAs
2000s
x’s and o’s
attorneys general
or
attorney generals
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 117
Special Noun Plurals
Foreign Nouns
• Nouns derived from foreign
languages may retain foreign
plural forms.
analysis
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 118
Special Noun Plurals
Foreign Nouns
• Nouns derived from foreign
languages may retain foreign
plural forms.
analysis
>
analyses
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 119
Special Noun Plurals
Foreign Nouns
• Nouns derived from foreign
languages may retain foreign
plural forms.
analysis
bacterium
>
analyses
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 120
Special Noun Plurals
Foreign Nouns
• Nouns derived from foreign
languages may retain foreign
plural forms.
analysis
bacterium
>
>
analyses
bacteria
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 121
Special Noun Plurals
Foreign Nouns
• Nouns derived from foreign
languages may retain foreign
plural forms.
analysis
bacterium
phenomenon
>
>
analyses
bacteria
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 122
Special Noun Plurals
Foreign Nouns
• Nouns derived from foreign
languages may retain foreign
plural forms.
analysis
bacterium
>
>
analyses
bacteria
phenomenon
>
phenomena
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 123
Special Noun Plurals
• Nouns derived from foreign languages
may have foreign plural forms or
Americanized forms.
criterion
criteria or criterions
memorandum
memoranda or memorandums
formula
formulae or formulas
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 124
Special Noun Plurals
Personal Titles
• Personal titles may have formal or informal
plural forms.
Informal
Mr. Lee and Mr. Song
the Miss Deans
Mrs. Cohn and Mrs. Dun
Ms. Freiden and
Ms. Allen
Formal
Messrs. Lee and Song
the Misses Dean
Mmes. Cohn and Dun
Mses. Frieden and
Allen
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 125
Special Noun Plurals
Special Nouns
• Some special nouns ending in s are
always singular.
genetics
mathematics
measles
economics
news
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 126
Special Noun Plurals
• Some special nouns are always
plural.
clothes
goods
scissors
statistics
thanks
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 127
Special Noun Plurals
• Some special nouns may be either
singular or plural.
corps
deer
Vietnamese
sheep
politics
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 128
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
1. Men and women gathered in bunchs
outside the courtroom.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 129
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
1. Men and women gathered in bunchs
outside the courtroom.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 130
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
1. Men and women gathered in bunches
outside the courtroom.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 131
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
2. Many corporate CEOs are also trained as
attornies.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 132
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
2. Many corporate CEOs are also trained as
attornies.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 133
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
2. Many corporate CEOs are also trained as
attorneys.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 134
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
3. Early in the 2000’s new taxes were levied
against service businesses.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 135
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
3. Early in the 2000’s new taxes were levied
against service businesses.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 136
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
3. Early in the 2000s new taxes were levied
against service businesses.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 137
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
4. Both of my brothers-in-law drove their
RV’s across the country.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 138
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
4. Both of my brothers-in-law drove their
RV’s across the country.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 139
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
4. Both of my brothers-in-law drove their
RVs across the country.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 140
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
5. Some secretaries complained that the top
shelfs were too high.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 141
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
5. Some secretaries complained that the top
shelfs were too high.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 142
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
5. Some secretaries complained that the top
shelves were too high.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 143
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
6. The Kennedies studied the ups and downs
of the stock market.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 144
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
6. The Kennedies studied the ups and downs
of the stock market.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 145
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
6. The Kennedys studied the ups and downs
of the stock market.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 146
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
7. Most husbands list their wifes as
beneficiaries of their insurance policies.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 147
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
7. Most husbands list their wifes as
beneficiaries of their insurance policies.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 148
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
7. Most husbands list their wives as
beneficiaries of their insurance policies.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 149
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
8. Potatos are grown in the fertile valleys of
Idaho.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 150
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
8. Potatos are grown in the fertile valleys of
Idaho.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 151
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
8. Potatoes are grown in the fertile valleys of
Idaho.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 152
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
9. Both Lisas received As in their accounting
classes.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 153
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
9. Both Lisas received As in their accounting
classes.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 154
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
9. Both Lisas received A’s in their accounting
classes.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 155
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
10. None of the bills of lading for the pianoes
could be found.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 156
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
10. None of the bills of lading for the pianoes
could be found.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 157
Chapter 4 - Quiz
Identify and correct any errors. The
sentence may already be correct.
10. None of the bills of lading for the pianos
could be found.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 158
END
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e
Ch. 4 - 159