Singular facts for kids
A grammatical number tells us if a noun or noun phrase is about one thing or more than one. In English, the main numbers are singular and plural. Understanding these helps us use words correctly when we write and speak.
What is Singular?
When we talk about something that is just one, we use the singular form. Think of it like counting one item.
- A cat (one cat)
- My friend (one friend)
- The sun (only one sun in our solar system)
- One apple (a single apple)
Some words are always singular, even if they don't seem like a single item you can count. These are called uncountable nouns.
- Water
- Information
- Advice
- Music
- Happiness
Even though you can't count "water" as "one water, two waters," it takes a singular verb (e.g., "Water is important").
What is Plural?
The plural form is used when we talk about more than one thing. This could be two, three, or even a million!
- Two cats
- Many friends
- Several apples
- All the stars
Most English nouns form their plural by adding an "s" or "es" to the end. These are called regular plurals.
- Book → Books
- Table → Tables
- Box → Boxes
- Bus → Buses
However, some nouns have irregular plurals. This means they don't just add "s" or "es."
- Child → Children
- Man → Men
- Foot → Feet
- Mouse → Mice
- Fish → Fish (stays the same!)
Sometimes, a plural can also mean less than one, like "0.5 liters" or "no bananas." The important thing is that it's not exactly one whole unit.
Why is Grammatical Number Important?
Knowing the difference between singular and plural helps you make your sentences clear and correct. It's especially important for subject-verb agreement. This means the verb in your sentence must match the number of the subject.
- The cat runs fast. (Singular subject "cat" needs singular verb "runs")
- The cats run fast. (Plural subject "cats" needs plural verb "run")
Using the correct number helps people understand exactly what you mean, whether you are talking about one thing or many.
See also
In Spanish: Singular (desambiguación) para niños
