What letter comes before the y in berry? What letter comes before the y in butterfly? in patty? in fairy? in dainty? Notice that these letters are consonants. Now notice that in butterflies, berries, patties, dainties the y has become i and es has been added. When a consonant comes before the final y of a noun, the y is changed to i, and the letters es are added to form the plural. 171 WRITING PLURALS OF NOUNS ENDING IN Y Copy the sentences below, using the plural forms of story, history, country, geography. 1. There are many interesting in this book. 2. Our are also very interesting. 3. England, France, and Russia are important 4. We can find maps of these in our Copy the following words and write the plural form of each in an opposite column, as shown here. MAKING NOUNS PLURAL PLURAL OF NOUNS ENDING IN CH, SH, X, AND SS Katherine and Margaret have sets of dishes for their dolls. "Let's play party out under the trees," said Katherine. "We can put on our mothers' dresses, and pretend that we are grown-up." Each set of dishes was in a box. John offered to carry the boxes so that the girls could hold up their dresses. There were two benches in the garden. They put the dolls on one bench, while they sat on the other. It was a lovely party under the oaks and bushes. You have learned that most nouns form their plurals by adding s to the singular. Find in the story the nouns benches, bushes, dishes, boxes, and dresses. These nouns are plural in form. If only one thing had been meant, what word would have been used in each case? Notice that the singular form of these nouns ends in ch, sh, x, or ss. How, then, are the plural forms of such nouns made? Write the plural forms of the following words by adding es to the singular form. Nouns ending in ch, sh, x, or ss are made plural by adding es to the singular form. 173 MAKING NOUNS PLURAL INTERNAL CHANGE All was quiet in the schoolroom. Suddenly, a wee mouse ran across the floor. The girls screamed and climbed to the tops of their desks. Even the teacher tucked first one foot, then the other up on her chair. Just then, a workman came through the hall and put an end to the mouse's school career. In the story notice the nouns in italics. Suppose there had been more than one mouse. What word would mean more than one? What word means more than one foot. If there had been more than one workman, what word would have been used? How is the plural of each of these nouns formed? Some nouns form their plural by changing the vowel or vowels within the word. 174 MAKING NOUNS PLURAL PLURAL OF NOUNS ENDING IN FOR FE "What are you going to furnish for the camp-fire supper, Sam?" "I promised a loaf of bread, but I'm going to take two loaves. I know we'll be hungry. Can you bring a knife?" "Yes, Joe and I will both take our Boy Scout knives. They're sure to be useful." Tell how the plural of the noun loaf is formed. Find another word in the story whose plural is formed in the same way. With what letter or letters do these words end? Do all nouns Think of the words roof and muff. ending in ƒ or fe form their plurals in the same way? Some nouns ending in ƒ or fe form their plural by changing f or fe to v and adding es. All other nouns ending in ƒ or fe form their plural by adding s to the singular form. 175 MAKING NOUNS PLURAL PLURAL OF NOUNS ENDING IN O Two vessels started from the United States carrying heavy cargoes of potatoes to France. On their way a severe storm struck them. The crew of one vessel was composed largely of negroes from the West Indies, who were used to tornadoes. Though their vessel was almost disabled they managed to keep afloat and even to help the other vessel. They were glad, however, to sight land, and the French people were equally glad to see the potatoes. Name the vowels. You know that all the other letters are consonants. What letter comes before the o in cargo? What letter comes before the o in potato? When a consonant comes before the final o in a word, the plural is often made by adding es to the singular. Write the plural form of Many nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant form the plural by adding es to the singular. We enjoyed our Flag Day exercises at school to-day. We had several musical numbers. Mary and Helen sang solos about the flag. There were two pianos in the assembly hall and two of the girls played, "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Some nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant form their plurals by adding s to the singular. All nouns ending in o preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding s to the singular. The nouns in the following list add s to form the plural. You must remember how to spell these plural forms. Plurals of nouns ending in o must be learned by practice. |