Pluralization Of Nouns In English— Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD

Characteristically, nouns are pluralised by the addition of suffixes or plural markers like ‘s’, ‘es’ or ‘ies’ to their singular forms. In stark contrast, a handful of other nouns such as woman, child, ox and mouse are pluralised in unorthodox ways. More importantly, users of the English language should be mindful that some nouns do not change their forms even in the plural context. In the face of the foregoing, this week’s treatise will expound on how such nouns are pervasively misrepresented, especially by non-native speakers.

First of all, I shall cast the spotlight on nouns that are decidedly plural. As a consequence, these nouns should not be portrayed as singular in any circumstance. Classical examples are surroundings, premises, minutes (of a meeting) shenanigans, leftovers, remains (a corpse), sunglasses, scissors and pliers. Others are articles of clothing like trousers, knickers, pyjamas, boxers and shorts. Coincidentally, these nouns ought to be incorporated within expressions alongside plural determiners (these and those) plural pronouns (they and them), as well as plural verbs (have, cost and are). The aggregate of these justifications will, thus, leave us with.

Pluralization Of Nouns In English

1) These premises belong to Mr Charles (correct).

This premises belongs to Mr Charles (incorrect).

2) Are those surroundings clean (correct)?

Is that surroundings clean (incorrect)?

3) The leftovers are in the sink (correct).

The leftover is in the sink (incorrect).

4) Bisi: Where are the remains of the cat?
Titi: They are at the backyard (correct).

Bisi: Where is the remains of the cat?
Titi: It is at the backyard (incorrect).

5) These sunglasses cost €10. I bet you would love to try them on (correct).

This sunglasses costs €10. I bet you would love to try it on (incorrect).

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As a follow-up to the aforesaid rationalisation, there are nouns that could either be decidedly singular or countable, on the one hand and irreversibly plural on the other hand. This standpoint is essentially dependent upon how such nouns are deployed in varying contexts. For specifics, there is no gainsaying that the water we ingest and use in the course of a myriad of activities is uncountable. Nonetheless, when the emphasis is made on the water contained in a particular ocean, sea, river or lake, it is designated as WATERS. Owing to that, ‘The WATERS of Lake Chad have shrunk dramatically in the last four years’. Not only that, the farthest you can see where the sky purportedly meets the land or sea is called the HORIZON. Contrariwise, the limit of your interest, knowledge and orientation is called your HORIZONS. It, therefore, stands to reason that, ‘Reading educative books and interacting with progressive people will help to broaden your HORIZONS significantly’. What is more, misconduct that involves drug or sex (like rape, kidnapping, drug and human trafficking, banditry or terrorism) is called VICE, an uncount noun. Fascinatingly, though, bad habits like heavy smoking and binge drinking could be labelled VICES.

Interestingly, that is not all: DAMAGE refers to the destruction, harm or injury caused to people and/or their properties. DAMAGES, on the contrary, border on the money that is paid to someone by a person or an organisation who has been responsible for causing the victim some injury or loss. Hence, for a DAMAGE caused, DAMAGES are paid. Next to that, the manner in which a phenomenon influences or affects another event is called a BEARING. Therefore, I could say: ‘Eating a healthy, balanced diet has a considerable bearing on our well-being’. For juxtaposition’s sake, your awareness of your position with regard to everything around you is called BEARINGS. Consequent upon this, ‘It is quite distressing that some people have lost their BEARINGS in life’.

Pluralization In English

With that being said, the third circumstance will reflect a sprinkling of uncountable nouns that should not be inflected with the plural markers ‘s’, ‘es’ and ‘ies’, despite the fact that they often comprise countable nouns. First up, the requisite tools for a particular task or activity are collectively known as equipment (not equipments). Likewise, the entire workforce in an organisation are designated as personnel (not personnels), just as the facts told, heard or discovered about somebody or something are known as information — not informations. Strikingly, another word which is ubiquitously misrepresented is jewellery. It is a non-count noun that pertains to the collection of rings, necklaces and other clothing accessories. Be that as it may, note that the word portrays a spelling dichotomy. While JEWELLERY is permissible in British English, JEWELRY is the American variant. Having said that, ‘jewelleries’ is downright inconsistent with the provisions of standard English. In equal measure, items such as pillowcases, sheets and blankets are aptly referred to as bedding — not beddings. To bring this section to an emphatic conclusion, other uncountable nouns like ammunition, cutlery, stationery, furniture, wear, attire and machinery collectively refer to the sub-items under them. In view of that, they should not be pluralised. In the same vein, people of a low social class in any society are also collectively referred to as RIFF-RAFF (not riff-raffs). Moreover, the letters and parcels sent by post are MAIL; not mails. In other words, you can say, ‘The professor spent the morning reading and answering her mail’.

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Graciously, I shall round off this piece by highlighting a few more examples of nouns that can attract different meanings when pluralised. Now, keep in mind that the soft, edible and tasty parts of plants that contain seeds are called FRUIT. Thus, you can ask a friend if s/he would like some fruit for dessert. As an idiom, however, one could talk about the FRUITS of one’s labour. In a similar scenario, the aquatic animals that breathe through their gills and possess fins are collectively called FISH, such that one could appropriately say, ‘Several large fish live in the Pacific Ocean’. The edible flesh that humans obtain from them is equally called FISH. However, multiple species of fish like salmon, tilapia, cod and herring are referred to as FISHES.

Considering all of these standpoints, it goes without saying that numbers and how they manifest in nouns are integral components of language mastery.

(c) 2021 Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB