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The Number of Nouns

Lecture 5

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The category of numberis based onthe functional opposition of two forms

of the noun: singular

plural.

The singular formis used to refer to a singlereferent: I have a brother.

The plural formis used to refer to a groupreferentof two or more members: She hasthree sisters.

The semantic opposition of one more thanoneis characteristic of countablenouns only.

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Grammatical Markers of Plurality

Countable nounsform their pluralby means of grammatical endingsor change of the root vowel.

a. The regular sending can beattached to most English nouns:

girl girls; toy toys; family families; idea ideas; lion lions

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In forming the plural we follow certainspelling rules:

Final y after a consonantchanges into ibefore the grammatical ending:

party parties

Final ydoes not change in family names:

the Kennedys

Abbreviated nouns in oattach thegrammatical ending s:

photos, kilos Abbreviations attach s:

Several VIPs are arriving for the ceremony.

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b. The grammatical ending esis attached tonouns ending in [s], [z], [dz], [t], []:

kisses, vases, bridges, watches, dishes

It is also attached to nouns ending in o:potatoes, heroes

c. Some nouns, ending in th, -f, or sundergo voicing of the final consonant in theplural.

With th and s voicing affects pronunciation. The voicing of [f] affects not only

pronunciation, but spelling as well:

The Merry Wives of Windsor

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d. The grammatical ending enis attachedto several nouns:

ox oxen; child children

e. Change of the root voweltakes placein several nouns:

man men; foot feet; mouse mice

f.The plural form of some nouns coincideswith the singular form (zero plurals):

series series; aircraft aircraft

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Many borrowed words retain their

foreign plural endings:

phenomenon phenomena hypothesis hypotheses

antenna antennae genius genii

poncho ponchos tempo tempi

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However, many nouns of foreign originmay attach sending as well:

antenna antennas(TV or radio aerial)

antenna antennae(long thin parts on theinsects head)

Singular Plural Singular Plural

alumnus alumni curriculum curricula

analysis analyses datum data

bacterium bacteria genius geniuses/genii(spirits)

beau beaux hypothesis hypotheses

oasis oases parenthesis parentheses

crisis crises phenomenon phenomena

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Some animal names have zeroplurals:

salmon, sheep, grouse

Other animal names have both plurals(zero

and s):fish a few fish(caught by a fisherman)

fish fishes(in the aquarium)

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Invariable Nouns

Uncountableand proper nounsareinvariable (they have only one form)

Each lexeme belonging to thesesubclasses is either singular or plural

According to their semanticsinvariable nouns fall into two groups:singular invariablesand pluralinvariables.

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Singular invariable nounstake singularverbs.To this group belong the following semantic

varieties:

- concrete uncountable nounsmilk,copper

- abstract uncountable nounsanger,

safety - proper nounsMount Everest,

Shakespeare - some nouns derivedby means of the

suffix snews, linguistics, Wales - substantivised words referring to

abstract notionsthe picturesque, thegood, the evil

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Plural invariable nounstake pluralverbs. This

group is comprised of the following varieties:

- objects made of two similar partsshorts,trousers, pincers

- proper collective nouns

people, police, cattle

- some nouns derivedby means of the suffixs goods, thanks, looks

- proper nouns in sNiagara Falls

- substantivised words referring to peoplethe blind, the disabled

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Nouns of Differentiated Plural

The plural form of some countablenounshas developed additionalmeaningsaltogether different from

the meanings of the singular form:

arm= an upper limb of the human body

arms= weapon, heraldic bearingscolour= red, blue, green

colours= flag

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Some uncountable nounshavedeveloped meanings different from the

basic ones.

Such meanings are marked by theplural form:

moral= the principle contained in a fable

morals= rules of conduct

regard= careful thought or attention

regards= greetings that show respect

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Some nouns have different forms ofplural which bear different meanings:

Singular Plural

brother brothers (by birth), brethren (of a society)

die dies (for coining or stamping), dice (for play)

fish fishes (separate fish), fish (collective)

index indexes (in books), indices (in algebra)

penny pennies (separate coins), pence (sum of money)

staff staves (poles), staffs (bodies of assistants)

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Subject Verb Concord of Number

Three types of concordof numberbetween subject and verb can bedistinguished:

a. grammatical concordSingular nounsfunctioning as subject take singular

verbs:

The book is on the shelf.Plural nounstake plural verbs:

The books are on the shelf.

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b. notional concord

the verb agrees with its subject according to thesemantics of the nounrather than its form:

The committee arediscussing a tight budget.

c. concord on the principle of proximity

the verb agrees in number with the noun, that isimmediately before or after the verb:

Neither the teacher nor the students haveanswered hisquestion yet.

Neither the students not the teacher hasanswered his

question yet.

There isa piano and two chairs in the room.

There aretwo chairs and a piano in the room.