English Word Skills Exercises for A1 – Singular and plural nouns

1. Complete the spelling rules in column A with the plural endings below.

-es     -es     -ies     -s     -s     -s     -ves

A Spelling rules

B Examples

1) To make the plural of most nouns we add ____

1) singer – singers

2) _____.

2) If the noun ends in -s, -sh,

-ch, -z, or -x, we add ____

3) _____.

4) _____.

5) _____.

3) If the noun ends in -o, we add ____ or sometimes ____

6) _____.

4) If the noun ends in a consonant – -y, we change -y to ____

7) _____.

8) _____.

9) _____.

10) _____.

5) If the noun ends in a vowel + -y, we add ____

11) _____.

6) If the noun ends in -f or -fe, we change -f or -fe to ____

12) _____.

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1) -s   2) -es   3) -s, -es   4) -ies   5) -s   6) -ves

2. Complete column B in exercise 1 with the underlined nouns in the text below. Write the singular and plural forms.

Famous families

WILL SMITH is a famous actor. His wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, is an actress, singer and businesswoman. They have got two children, Jaden and Willow. Jaden is an actor too – the star of ‘The Karate Kid’ – and Willow is a singer and dancer. The family have got a charity, The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation. It helps poor young people in American cities.

SERENA AND VENUS WILLIAMS come from a large family – with five girls and no boys! They are both famous tennis players. Venus is the winner of seven singles Grand Slams. She is the first black woman to be Number 1 in the world. Venus has got a clothes company that makes dresses, skirts and tops. Serena is the winner of more tennis matches than any other female player. She speaks French, Italian and Spanish – and English, of course. She has got a tattoo of a heart on her neck.

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2) winner – winners   3) actress – actresses

4) dress – dresses  5) match – matches   6) tattoo – tattoos

7) family – families   8) charity – charities   9) city – cities

10) company – companies   11) boy – boys   12) wife – wives

3. Which rules in exercise 1 do these nouns follow? Write 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

a dictionary   4

b day   ____

c knife   ____

d box   ____

e potato   ____

f brother   ____

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b Rule 5   c Rule 6   d Rule 2   e Rule 3   f Rule 1

4. Complete the sentences with the plural forms of the nouns in exercise 3.

1) There are seven ____________ in a week.

2) We’ve got fifteen English ____________ on the shelf in our classroom.

3) I’ve got a sister and two ____________

4) I keep CDs in two ____________ under bed.

5) Let’s have steak, ____________ and peas for dinner.

6) Can you put the plates, ____________, forks and spoons on the table, please?

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1) days   2) dictionaries   3) brothers   4) boxes

5) potatoes   6) knives

5. Look at the italic words in the text in exercise 2. Add them to the rules below. If possible, write the singular and plural forms.

1) Some nouns have irregular plural forms.

__________________

2) Some nouns are always plural

 ________

3) Some nouns have no plural form. We call these uncountable nouns.

     ________

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1) child – children, person – people, woman – women

2) clothes   3) tennis

6. Complete the sentences with the words below. Sometimes you need to change the form.

help     jeans     man     sunglasses     tooth     water

1) Can you give me some ________ with homework? It’s very difficult.

2) ‘I’m thirsty.’ ‘Have a glass of ________.’

3) Always brush your ________ Before you go to bed.

4) The sun is very bright. Where are ________?

5) Joe has got a white top and blue ________

6) Can you see those two ________ Over there? They’re uncles.

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1) help   2) water   3) teeth   4) sunglasses   5) jeans   6) men

7. Write the plural forms of the nouns below. Use a dictionary to help you.

1) key   ________.

2) half   ________.

3) ski   ________.

4) mouse   ________.

5) sheep   ________.

6) roof   ________.

Show answers

1) keys   2) halves   3) skis   4) mice   5) sheep   6) roofs

8. Rewrite the following sentences with plural forms. Use the numbers in brackets.

1) Our flat has got a bedroom. (six)

 ________

2) We’ve got a class before lunch. (four)

 ________

3) Matt has got a shelf in his room. (five)

 ________

4) sister has got a child. (three)

 ________

5) I’ve got a party this weekend. (two)

 ________

6) friend has got a photo on his phone. (sixty)

     ________

Show answers

1) Our flat has got six bedrooms.

2) We’ve got four classes before lunch.

3) Matt has got five shelves in his room.

4) sister has got three children.

5) I’ve got two parties this weekend.

6) friend has got 60 photos on his phone.