The plural of nouns

In the English language nouns are divided into countables and uncountables according to whether they can be counted or not.


                              Countables :                                      Uncountables :
                                
                                   student                                               butter
                                    dog                                                    love
                                    book                                                  sugar
                                    pancil                                                 bread

Picture 1: Countables and uncountables nouns

As  a rule the indefinite article a/an precedes only countables in the singular.

Examples :

A women wants to see you.
Father gave me an apple.

Numbers are used only before countables.

Examples :

There are five chairs in the room.

Countabeles may be preceded by :many,few, a few, a large number of, a small number of, etc; while the uncountables may be preceded by: much, little, a piece of, an item of,etc.

Examples :

There are many boys and girls running in the park.
She has a few friends.
I have much work to do today.
Mary has three pieces of luggage.

 1.The plural of nouns is formed by adding -s or -es to the noun in the singular.Most nouns form their plural by adding -s :

Examples :

street- streets                          name-names
boy- boys                                 cup-cups

2. Nouns ending in -s, -ss,-ch, -(t)ch,-x,-z, add -es in the plural.

Examples :

bus-busses             glass-glasses             beach- beaches       watch-watches            box-boxes


3.Nouns ending in  -y preceded by a consonant change the -y into i and add -es in the plural.


Examples:

country-countries             story-stories                  city-cities                reply-replies

 *Note : 

But :  Mary- Marys,  Molly-Mollys,  Betty-Bettys

4.Nouns ending in -y preceded by 1 vowel form their plural by adding -s.

               day-days             play-plays                boy-boys                   tray-trays


5.  13 nouns ending in -f or -fe change -f into -v and add -es in the plural

knife-knives      life-lives       wife-wives    leaf-leaves     half-halves      shelf-shelves    loaf-loaves
thief-thieves     self-selves   wolf-wolves  calf-calves      elf-elves         sheaf-sheaves 


*Note :
All other nouns ending in -f take only -s in the plural :
roof-roofs     proof-proofs       cliff-cliffs


Double forms :

 scarf-scarfs-scarves                      hoof-hoofs-hooves                wharm-wharfs-wharves

Other ways to say... ( 2 )

Prepositional phrase

A phrase is a group of words without a subject and verb, used as one part of speech. (There are
several types of phrases including the verb phrase, noun phrase, and prepositional phrase.)

 The prepositional phrase consists of the preposition, its object, and modifiers of the object. The
object of the preposition is always a noun, pronoun, or a group of words used as a noun.
 To find the object of the preposition, first say the preposition, then ask, "Whom or what?" 

 Example:

                                           The coin fell (between the cracks.) 


 Between is the preposition in the above sentence. To find the object of the preposition ask
"Between what?" The noun "cracks" answers the question, so it is the object of the preposition.


 Prepositional phrases are used as adjectives or adverbs.


 A.. When prepositional phrases are used as adjectives, the phrase comes immediately after the
noun or pronoun it modifies. The phrase answers one of the following questions about the
word it modifies: Which one? What kind of? How many? Whose?
My check (for the dress) is in the mail.
 The prepositional phrase, "for the dress," tells which check. The phrase is used as an
adjective modifying the noun "check."


 B. When prepositional phrases are used as adverbs, they may be found any place in the sentence.
The adverb phrase tells how, when, where, or under what condition about a verb, adjective, or
adverb.
The boy fell (on the steps.)
 The phrase "on the steps" tells where the boy fell. It modifies the verb "fell" and is used as an
adverb.

Other ways to say...

Adverbs

 We use adverbs to give more information about the verb

.

Adverbs answer any of the following questions about verbs:

how?    when?    where?     why?

                         

We use adverbials of manner to say how something happens or how something is done:

The children were playing happily.
He was driving as fast as possible.

We use adverbials of place to say where something happens:

I saw him there.
We met in London.

We use adverbials of time to say when or how often something happens:

They start work at six thirty.
They usually go to work by bus.

We use adverbials of probability to show how certain we are about something.

• Perhaps the weather will be fine.
• He is certainly coming to the party.

Phrasal verbs

What are phrasal verbs?

1.  A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb. Example: I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. run + into = meet He ran away when he was 15. run + away = leave home 2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be  followed by an object. Example: He suddenly showed up. "show up" cannot take an object 3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object. Example: I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up" 4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb. Example: I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car. She looked the phone number up. 5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are  marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb. Example: I ran into an old friend yesterday. They are looking into the problem. 6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + . Example: I looked the number up in the phone book. I looked up the number in the phone book. 7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun. Example: I looked the number up in the phone book. I looked up the number in the phone book. I looked it up in the phone book. correct I looked up it in the phone book. incorrect

Gerund

A gerund (verb + ing) acts like a noun in a sentence.

• Seeing is believing.
• Running a marathon is not an easy thing to do.
• Watching TV is sometimes harmful.
• Eating is always fun.
• My hobby is painting.
• She loves babysitting her sister.
• I like listening to music.
• I wasted all my afternoon by taking a nap.
• I am afraid of singing a song on a stage.

Often, a possessive noun or pronoun comes before a gerund.

• I hope that you don’t mind my using your pen.
• Don’t be mad about my leaving early.
• I don’t want you misunderstanding.
• You will be amazed by my writing.

Quiz:

Fill in the blanks.

1) I enjoy                      (draw) as a hobby.
2) She likes                      (buy) clothes.
3) Children are fond of                      (play) with water.
4)                      (dance) is my favorite thing to do.
5) I am upset at his                      (break) the rule.



Answers :

1) drawing
2) buying
3) playing
4) Dancing
5) breaking

Articles

Articles in English are complicated, and there are many rules for their use. However, learning a few general rules about the use of the articles is helpful; the logic of these rules can be transferred to most uses of the article. In addition to learning the rules, you can gain a good working use of the articles through reading and listening. Remember that the article is not stressed, so don't listen for its full value! Also, ask native speakers to help you when you don't know whether or not to use the article. 

NUMBER	INDEFINITE	DEFINITE
Singular	a / an	the
Plural	nothing	the
Non-Count	nothing	the

Articles Rule 1: With singular count nouns, use 'a' if indefinite or "the" if definite. 


My daughter wants to buy a dog this weekend. (Indefinite-It could be any dog) 
The dog in the backyard is very cute.(Definite- The one in the backyard) 


Examples 

1. He requested a puppy for his birthday.
2. He wanted the puppy he played with at the pet shop.
3. She ordered a hamburger without onions.
4. Did you drink the coke I just ordered? 




Articles Rule 2: With plural count nouns use either "the" or nothing, never 'a'. 

1.Come and look at the children. (definite)
2.Children are always curious. (indefinite)
3.She loves flowers. (indefinite)
4.The flowers in her garden are beautiful. (definite)
5.Do you like reading grammar rules?
6.Do you like reading the grammar rules on this page? 




Articles Rule 3: With non-count nouns, use either "the" or nothing. 

He has experience. (if indefinite or mentioned for the first time) 
He has the experience necessary for the job. (if definite or mentioned before) 

1.The medicine the doctor prescribed had unpleasant side effects.
2.Writing in a second language is especially challenging.
3.Have you studied the history of South Africa?
4.History reminds us that events repeat themselves. 



Articles Rule 4: If a plural or non-count noun is followed by [of + noun], "the" is preferred. 

1.The languages of Asia are unrelated to English.
2.The wines of France are famous.
3.The birds of North America are beautiful.
4.X Museum of Art is having X exhibit of the paintings of Picasso.

Can

We use 'can' to talk about 'possibility'.

• Can you do that?
• You cannot smoke in here.

Notice that there are two negative forms: 'can't' and 'cannot'. These mean exactly the same thing. When we are speaking, we usually say 'can't'.

We use 'can' to talk about 'ability'.

• I can speak French.
• I can't drive.

We use 'can' to ask for and give permission. (We also use 'may' for this but is more formal and much less common.)

• Can I speak to you or are you too busy?
• You can use my phone.
• You can't come in.

We use 'can' in offers, requests and instructions.

• Can I help?
• Can you give me a hand?
• When you finish that, you can take out the garbage.

We use 'can' with 'see' 'hear' 'feel' 'smell' 'taste' to talk about something which is happening now . (Where you would use the present continuous with most other verbs.)

• I can smell something burning.
• Can you hear that noise?
• I can't see anything.

We can use 'can't' for deduction. The opposite of 'can't' in this context is 'must'.

• You can't be hungry. You've just eaten.
• You must be hungry. You haven't eaten anything all day.
• He was in London one hour ago when I spoke to him. He can't be here yet.

Irregular verbs

Infinitive	Past Simple	Past Participe	Jedno od značenja
arise	arose	arisen	dići se, nastati, nastajati
awake	awoke	awoken	probuditi
be	was/were	Been	biti
become	became	become	postati
begin	began	begun	početi
bend	bent	bent	saviti
bet	bet	bet	kladiti se
bite	bit	bitten	ujesti
bleed	bled	bled	krvariti
blow	blew	blown	duvati
break	broke	broken	prekinuti
bring	brought	brought	doneti
brodcast	brodcast	brodcast	emitovati
build	built	built	graditi
burn	burnt	burnt	goreti
buy	bouhgt	bought	kupiti
catch	caught	caught	hvatati
choose	chose	chosen	birati
come	came	come	doći
cost	cost	cost	koštati
creep	crept	crept	gmizati
cut	cut	cut	iseći
deal	dealt	dealt	trgovati
dig	dug	dug	kopati
do	did	done	činiti
Infinitive	Past Simple	Past Participe	Jedno od značenja
dive	dived/dove	dived	roniti
drow	drew	drown	crtati
dream	dremt	dremt	sanjati
drink	drank	drunk	piti
drive	drove	driven	voziti
dwell	dwelt	dwelt	stanovati
eat	ate	eaten	jesti
fall	fell	fallen	pasti
feed	fed	fed	hraniti
feel	felt	felt	osećati
fight	fought	fought	boriti se
find	found	found	naći
fit	fit/fitted	fit/fitted
flee	fled	fled	bežati
fly	flew	flown	leteti
forbid	forbade/forbad	forbidden	zabranjen
forecast	forcast/forecasted	forcast/forecasted	prognoza
foresee	foresaw	foreseen	predvideti
foretell	foretold	foretold	predskazanje
forget	forgot	forgotten	zaboraviti
forgive	forgave	forgiven	oprostiti
freez	froze	forzen	smrznuti
get	got	got/gotten	imati,dati, dobijati
give	gave	given	dati
go	went	gone	otići
Infinitive	Past Simple	Past Participe	Jedno od značenja
grow	grew	grown	rasti
have	had	had	imati
hear	hear	heard	čuti
hide	hid	hidden	sakriti
hit	hit	hit	baciti
hold	held	held	držati
hurt	hurt	hurt	boleti, povrediti
keep	kept	kept	zadržati
kneel	knelt/kneeled	knelt/kneeled	kleknuti
know	knew	known	znati
lay	laid	laid	postaviti
lead	led	led	voditi
leave	left	left	ostaviti
lend	lent	lent	pozajmiti
let	let	let	dopustiti
lie	lay	lain	lagati
light	lit	lit	svetleti
lose	lost	lost	izgbiti
make	made	made	napraviti
meet	met	met	sresti
misteke	mistook	mistaken	pogrešiti
pay	paid	paid	platiti
put	put	put	staviti
read	read (*red*)	read (*red*)	čitati
ride	rode	ridden	jahati
Infinitive	Past Simple	Past Participe	Jedno od značenja
run	run	run	trčati
ring	rang	rung	zvoniti
rise	rose	risen	uspon
saw	sawed	sawn/sawed	testeriti
say	said	said	reći
seek	sought	sought	tražiti
sell	sold	sold	prodavati
send	send	sent	poslati
set	set	set	postaviti
sew	sewed	sewn	šiti
shake	shook	shaken	tresti se
shave	shaved	shaved	brijati se
shut	shut	shut	zatvoriti
shrink	shrank	shrunk	skupiti se
sing	sang	sung	pevati
sink	sank	sunk	potonuti
sit	sat	sat	sesti
slide	slid	slid	klizati
smell	smelt	smelt	mirisati
sow	sowed	sown	sejati
speak	spoke	spoken	govoriti
spend	spend	spent	potrošiti
split	split	split	podeliti
spoil	spoilt	spoilt	pokvariti
steal	stole	stolen	krasti
swim	swam	swum	plivati
take	took	taken	uzeti
teach	taught	taught	učiti
think	thought	thought	misliti
wear	wore	worn	nositi odeću
win	won	won	pobediti
withdraw	withdrew	withdrawn	povući se
work	worked	worked	raditi
write	wrote	written	pisati