§ 2. Образование множественного числа имен существительных

Множественное число существительных (кроме тех, у которых основа оканчивается на -ch, -s, -ss, -sh, -x ) образуется путем прибавления к основе окончания -s: а Ъоу — boys, a trick — tricks, a pen- pens, a girl-girls.

Множественное число существительных, основа которых оканчивается на -ch, -s, -ss, -sh, -x, а также существительных, имеющих, как правило, окончание -о, образуется путем прибавления к основе окончания -es: a bench — benches, a bus- buses, a glass — glasses, a box — boxes, a potato — potatoes.

Существительные, оканчивающиеся на -у (после согласной) во множественном числе имеют окончание -ies: an army — armies, a fly — flies, a lady — ladies.

Конечное f(-fe), как правило, меняется на -ves:

a calf — calves, a knife — knives, a shelf — shelves, a wife — wives (но: roof — roofs).

Ряд существительных образует множественное число не по общим правилам:

а) изменяется корневая гласная:

a man — men, a woman — women, a foot — feet, a tooth — teeth, a goose — geese, a mouse — mice

б) добавляется окончание -en:

an ox — oxen, a child — children.

в) заимствуются формы единственного и множе-

ственного числа из латинского и греческого языков:

a formula — formulae (formulas), a crisis — crises, a criterion — criteria, an index — indices, a bacterium — bacteria, an axis — axes

В английском языке есть существительные, которые имеют одну (общую) форму для единственного и множественного числа: a deer (олень) — deer (олени), a sheep (овца) — sheep (овцы), a fish (рыба) — fish (рыбы), swine(свинья) — swine(cBHHbn).

Некоторые существительные имеют только единственное число: advice, information, news, knowledge, furniture, luggage.

Некоторые — только множественное число: clothes, riches, damages, goods, looks, manners, thanks.

Запомните: this is — these are that is — those are there is — there are it is — they are

Exercise 1.9. Put the following nouns in plural form:

A cat, a forest, a dollar, a railroad, a horse, a pan, a girl, fitness, a bench, a tomato, a car, a flag, an apartment, a telephone, a box, a knife, a fork, a fox, a rabbit, a wife, a landlady, an army, a fly, a sky, a potato, a life, a story, a pack, a lamp.

a shelf, a foot, a wife, a roof, a fly, a foot, a tooth, a goose, an ox, a child, a woman, a man, a bacteria, a criterion, axe.

Exercisel.10. Put the following nouns in plural form:

A box, a sheep, a place, a library, a photo, a mouse, a lady, a glass, a bush, a dress, a country, a bus, a party, a wife, a day, a knife, a knowledge, a month, a pen, a hero, a goose, a company, a life, a deer, a tomato, a city, a man, a play, a news, a child, a fruit, a shelf, a leaf, a foot, a fish, a woman, money, information.

Exercise 1.11. Write down the following nouns in plural:

A star, a mountain, a tree, a waiter, the queen, a man, a woman, an eye, a shelf, a box, a city, a boy, a goose, a watch, a mouse, a dress, a toy, a sheep, a tooth, a child, an ox, a deer, a life, a tomato.

Exercise 1.12. Write down the following in plural:

This man, that ox, this formula, this child, that wall, that crisis, this foot, that deer, this fish, that fish, this case

Exercise 1.13. Put the following sentences in plural and write them down. Pay attention to the changes of the verbs (глагол) and pronouns:

1. A new car is in my garage. 2. This story is very interesting. 3. There was a woman, a man, a boy and a girl in the room. 4. In the farm-yard we could see an ox, a sheep, a cow and a goose. 5. Put this knife on that table. 6. Why don't you eat this potato? 7. This strawberry is still green. 8. A yellow leaf has fallen to the ground. 9. Can you see a bird in that tree? 10. Is this a mouse? 11.1 put my textbook on the shelf. 12. His child studies very well. 13. Is this worker an Englishman or a German? — He is a Frenchman. 14. What is that child's name? 15. The cat has caught a mouse. 16.1 have hurt my foot. 17. The criminal has been shot. 18. I have a younger sister. 19. This man works at our office.

Exercise 1.14. Put the following sentences in plural and write them down. Pay attention to the changes of the verbs and pronouns:

1. This is my computer. 2. He has a new suit. 3. This metal is very hard. 4. That ship is a Russian one. 5. I heard her voice. 6. His dog does not like bread. 7. The plate was on the table. 8. This town is very large. 9.1 was talking to her in the street yesterday. 10. Is that girl your sister? 11. I shall give you my book. 12. This story will be a good one. 13. Is this a good match? 14. The boy put his book on the desk. 15. She took off her hat. 16. That house is new. 17. The pupil put his book into the bag. 18. Is this student coming with us, too? 19. The woman didn't say anything. 20. Does she speak English?