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English grammar

One and more than one

A0 · Starter Nouns and describing Questions 10

The rule

For more than one thing English adds -s: one ticket, two tickets. After a number the noun MUST take the -s — two ticket is not possible. A few very common words change instead: child → children, man → men, woman → women, foot → feet, tooth → teeth. And with a plural noun the small word a disappears: a shoe, but shoes.

Pattern

one ticket → two tickets | child → children · man → men · foot → feet

Examples

  1. I have two children.

  2. Two tickets to the centre, please.

  3. Please leave your shoes at the door.

  4. Wash your hands, please.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I have two child.

    Right: I have two children.

    After a number the noun is always plural, and child is one of the irregulars.

  • Wrong: a shoes

    Right: shoes

    a means one. It cannot stand in front of a plural.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Two coffees, please.
    2. Two coffee, please.
    3. Two a coffee, please.
    4. Two coffee's, please.
    Show answer

    Answer: A Two coffees, please.

    After two the noun takes -s.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. We have three childs.
    2. We have three childrens.
    3. We have three child.
    4. We have three children.
    Show answer

    Answer: D We have three children.

    child → children, not childs.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    One kilo of _____, please.

    1. tomatos
    2. tomatoes
    3. tomato
    4. a tomato
    Show answer

    Answer: B One kilo of tomatoes, please.

    More than one tomato → tomatoes.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    My flat has two _____.

    1. bedroomes
    2. a bedroom
    3. bedroom
    4. bedrooms
    Show answer

    Answer: D My flat has two bedrooms.

    bedroom → bedrooms.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    Many _____ are waiting outside.

    1. peoples
    2. person
    3. people
    4. a people
    Show answer

    Answer: C Many people are waiting outside.

    people is already plural — no -s and no a.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    I have ten _____.

    1. fingeres
    2. finger
    3. fingers'
    4. fingers
    Show answer

    Answer: D I have ten fingers.

    finger → fingers, the regular -s.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Two mans are at the door.
    2. Two man are at the door.
    3. Two men are at the door.
    4. Two mens are at the door.
    Show answer

    Answer: C Two men are at the door.

    man → men.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I am looking for black shoe.
    2. I am looking for black shoes.
    3. I am looking for a black shoe's.
    4. I am looking for a black shoes.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I am looking for black shoes.

    a cannot go in front of a plural.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    I need six eggs

    Show answer

    Answer: I need six eggs.

    Number, then the plural noun.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I want one ticket.
    2. I want three tickets.
    3. I want three ticket.
    4. I want a ticket.
    Show answer

    Answer: C I want three ticket.

    After a number the noun must be plural.

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