Number of Nouns Pronouns and Adjectives Class 7 Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of the CBSE Class 7 English Grammar syllabus focuses on the number of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. It includes practice worksheets to reinforce understanding of singular and plural forms. This chapter helps students understand how singular and plural forms work in English.

Number of Nouns Pronouns and Adjectives

There are two numbers in the English language: a singular number and a plural number. These numbers represent nouns, pronouns, and adjectives.

For nouns, the singular form represents one item, while the plural form represents more than one. For example, “one book” is singular, and “two books” is plural.

Similarly, pronouns change based on number. “He” is singular, while “they” is plural.

Adjectives also have singular and plural forms. For instance, “that house” is singular, while “those houses” is plural.

Thus, understanding the singular and plural forms is essential for correct grammar in English.

Points to Remember:

  • The English language has two numbers: singular and plural.
  • These numbers apply to nouns, pronouns, and adjectives.
  • Examples of singular and plural nouns: one book, two books; one man, three men.
  • Examples of singular and plural pronouns: he, they.
  • Examples of singular and plural adjectives: that house, those houses.

Ways of Forming Plural Number of Nouns Pronouns and Adjectives

Ways of Forming Plural Number of Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives explores various rules and patterns for converting singular forms to plural. It provides examples and exercises to enhance comprehension.

1. Forming Plurals of Nouns

The Plural nouns are formed in these ways:

[A] By adding ‘-s’ to the Singular:

SINGULARPLURAL
penpens
bookbooks
daydays
toytoys
boyboys
pianopianos
bamboobamboos
chefchefs
proofproofs
roofroofs
spoonfulspoonfuls
girlgirls
cowcows
birdbirds
essayessays
monkeymonkeys
chimneychimneys
photophotos
cuckoocuckoos
gulfgulfs
griefgriefs
dwarfdwarfs
handfulhandfuls
monarchmonarchs

[B] By adding ‘-es’ to the Singular of words ending in x, s, sh, ch:

SINGULARPLURAL
boxboxes
assasses
glassglasses
bushbushes
watchwatch
classclasses
matchmatches
ChurchChurches
dishdishes

Note: If -es is added after x, s, sh, or ch, the extra syllable is pronounced IZ.

[C] Most nouns ending in ‘O’ form their plurals by adding-es:

SINGULARPLURAL
heroheroes
mangomangoes
mosquitomosquitoes
buffalobuffaloes
potatopotatoes
volcanovolcanoes
cargocargoes
negronegroes
echoechoes

[D] By changing ‘-y’ into ‘-ies’:

SINGULARPLURAL
armyarmies
bodybodies
dutyduties
citycities
ladyladies
flyflies
navynavies
storystories
spyspies

[E] By changing ‘-f’ or ‘-fe’ into ‘-ves’:

SINGULARPLURAL
calfcalves
halfhalves
thiefthieves
leafleaves
lifelives
knifeknives
shelfshelves
selfselves
sheafsheaves
wolfwolves
wifewives
elfelves

[F] By changing the inside vowel or vowels:

SINGULARPLURAL
manmen
toothteeth
womanwomen
mousemice
fishermanfishermen
statesmanstatesmen
louselice
goosegeese
footfeet
dormousedormice
postmanpostmen
EnglishmanEnglishmen

[G] By adding ‘-en’ or ‘-ren’ to the singular:

SINGULARPLURAL
oxoxen
childchildren
brotherbrethren

[H] Plural Forms of Compound Nouns

The following are the plural forms of compound nouns. The first word of the compound noun is plural. In the second section, the word at the end of the compound noun will be plural. Take a look at all the words:

SINGULARPLURAL
Commander-in chefcommanders-in-chief
passer-bypassers-by
son-in-lawsons-in-law
fountain penfountain pens
girl friendgirl friends
maid-servantmaid-servants
hanger-onhangers-on
tin-mantin-men

Some Exceptions: In the case of the following Compound words, both words must be pluralized: namely—

SINGULARPLURAL
man-servantmen-servants
lady doctorladies doctors

[I] Singular to Plural for Letter and Figure

 In the case of Letters and Figures, Singular to Plural will be formed as follows:

SINGULARPLURAL
B.A.B.A’s
B.Ed.B.Ed’s
M.L.A.M.L.A’s

However, in the case of the above words, they also have alternative forms. That is, instead of using ‘s’, only ‘s’ is used in plural. That is: Plural B.A ‘s can be written instead of B. A s, which is in vogue today.

[J] Singular and Plural Forms of Foreign Words

There are many foreign words in the English language. Here is a list of the singular and plural forms of these foreign words:

SINGULARPLURAL
analysisanalyses
agendumagenda
indexindices
mediamedium
syllabussyllabi
appendixappendices

[K] One meaning in the singular, but Two meanings in the plural.

There are some nouns in English, which have only one meaning in the singular, but two meanings in the plural. Such as –

SINGULARMEANINGPLURALMEANING
colourhuecolours(i) hues 
(ii) flags of regiment 
effectresult effects(i) results
(ii) property
numbera quantitynumbers(i) quantity
(ii) verses
painsufferingpains(i) sufferings
(ii) care
partportionparts(i) portions 
(ii) abilities 
quartera fourth partquarters(i) fourth parts
(ii) lodge
spectaclea sightspectacles(i) sights
(ii) eye-glasses

[L] Two meanings in the singular but one meaning in the plural

Several nouns in English have two meanings in the singular but one meaning in the plural:

SINGULARMEANINGPLURALMEANING
issue(i) results 
(ii) offspring
issuesresults
people(i) a nation 
(ii) men and women 
peoplesnations 
wood(i) forest 
(ii) timber, lumber 
woodsforests

[M] Nouns that have the same form in Singular and Plural.

The Nouns – sheep, deer, swine, cod, trout, salmon, fish, grouse, and piece, have the same form in Singular and Plural.

  • Two sheeps – ✖ 
  • Two sheep – ✔ 
  • Three deers – ✖
  • Three deer – ✔

[N] Noun Singular in Form but Plural in Sense

  • cattle, 
  • people, 
  • folk, 
  • poultry, 
  • gentry, 
  • vermin

[O] Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Sense

  • news, 
  • summons, 
  • mathematics, 
  • physics, 
  • politics, 
  • gymnastics, 
  • alms 

[P] Nouns that are always used in the Plural form

  • ashes, 
  • measles, 
  • mumps, 
  • riches, 
  • scissors, 
  • assets, 
  • thanks, 
  • trousers, 
  • drawers, 
  • breeches, 
  • bowels, 
  • entrails, 
  • wages, 
  • spectacles

[Q] Nouns that are always used as the Singular

  • information, 
  • advice, 
  • furniture, 
  • alphabet, 
  • issue, 
  • scenery

2. Number of Pronouns:

SINGULARPLURAL
IWe
MeUs
Him, Her, ItThem
His, Her, ItsTheir
MyselfOurselves
MyOur
YouYou
Himself, Herself, ItselfThemselves
YourselfYourselves
YourYour
He, She, ItThey
ThatThose
ThisThese

3. Number of Adjectives:

SINGULARPLURAL
This boyThese boys
That girlThose girls

Number of Nouns Exercises for Practice

Chapter 5 includes various exercises for practicing singular and plural forms of nouns. These activities help students reinforce their understanding and application of pluralization rules.

Exercises 1

A. Write the following sentences, changing the nouns, and pronouns into the opposite number. Make other necessary changes:

(a) My books lie here. 

(b) I have seen a mouse in my office. 

(c) A goose live wold, 

(d) I have marked a louse on your back. 

(e) Zahir put the dagger back in its sheath. 

(f) The book is on the top shell

(g) The tree is just coming into leaf. 

(h) The roof of the car was not damaged. 

(i) A fly is buzzing against the window. 

(j) You need a woolen scarf. 

(k) A cuckoo leaves its eggs in the nest of other birds. 

(L) The ox has a cloven hoof. 

(m) There is a housemaid in our house. 

(n) The horse is a useful animal. 

(o) A kills other creatures for food. 

(p) There is a car thief here. 

(q) They that are careless lose their belongings. 

(r) A looker-on enjoys more of the game than a player. 

(s) Will you peel the potatoes for me”

(t) He drank a pot of coffee. 

(u) A monkey climbed the tree and hid in the branch.

(v) The painters apply the paint with fine brushes.

Exercises 2

B. Determine which of the following words are singular and which are plural:

boy, girls, asses, radio, baby, cities, men, lice, children, teeth, knives, roofs, us, we, they, it, this, those, book, television, watch, rooms, star, half, buttons.

Exercises 3

C. Change the following Singular into Plurals:

door, leaf, village, baby, lady, army, mouse, foot, woman, gentleman, gulf, chief, day, night, star, knife, cuckoo, hero, snake, tooth, chair, table, pupil, picture, half, belief, sister, parent, school, class, rose, fruit, gas, husk, dish, cup, pot, glass, film, hen, goat, fish, dog, cow, ear, key.

Exercises 4

D. Put the correct form of the noun in the space:

(i) He has many …………… (pen).

(ii) There are twelve hundred …………… (student) in our school.

(iii) This is our ……………  (school). 

(iv) He sits on this …………… (chair).

(v) Ram bought six …………… (book)

(vi) …………… (this) are flowers. 

(vii) Many ……………(child) are playing in the field.

(viii) They do the work …………… (himself).

(ix) There are two …………… (table) in the room.

(x) There are twelve……………  (bench) in the class room.

Exercises 5

E. Turn the following singular nouns into plural forms.

fly, potato, baby, calf, piece, echo, class, goose, tooth, my, that, loaf, ass.

Exercises 6

F. Give plural forms of the following Sentences.

(a) He has a new book. 

(b) He saw a deer. 

(c) This is a table. 

(d) She is a good girl.

(e) I have a dog. 

(f) The mango is sweet. 

(g) The bird is singing. 

(h) The girl is beautiful. 

(i) This is a camel.

(j) A fox is a clever animal.

Exercises 7

G. Fill in the blanks using plural forms:

(a) The ……….. are singing. (bird)

(b)  ………..  have pretty wings. (butterfly)

(c) A tiger has sharp  ……….. (tooth) 

(d) The farmer has two  ……….. (ox)

(e) We see with our  ……….. (eye)

(f) These are  ……….. (hare)

(g) The cat killed many  ……….. (mouse)

(h) These are  ……….. (egg)