英語中用 14 - Common noun (普通名詞) (1):
以下列出一些最基本的規則:
單/雙 數 (singlular/plural):
通常雙數 (超過一)的名詞要加上 s, 如:
· two apples;
· a pile of peanuts;
· five horses;
· several cars;
· many books;
· a chain of thoughts;
· plenty of ideals
如字的尾字母是:s, ch, x, sh 或 z 的話,則要加上 es, 如:
kiss > kisses; church > churches; box > boxes; brush > brushes;
如字的尾字母是 o,則要加上 es, 如:
mango > mangoes; potato > potatoes;
(但有例外,如:photo > photos; ego > egos; )
如字的尾字母是 f 或 fe, 則要把 f變成 ves,如:
leaf > leaves; loaf > loaves; wolf > wolves; life > lives
(但有例外,如:roof > roofs; chief > chiefs; belief > beliefs)
如字的尾字母是 y, 則要把 y變成 ies,如:
fly > flies; lorry > lorries; beauty > beauties; baby > babies, party > parties
(除非y 前面的字母是響音,則只加s, 如:boy > boys; guy > guys; donkey > donkeys; toy > toys)
一些合拼字的雙數通常把s 加在首字,如:
· master of ceremony > masters of ceremony
· attorney general > attorneys general
· father-in-law > fathers-in-law
· mother-in-law > mothers-in-law
· son-in-law > sons-in-law
· sister-in-law > sisters-in-law
· passer-by > passers-by
· bride-to-be > brides-to-be
有一些字有著它自己的雙數字而不加上 s,如:
· man > men
· woman > women
· child > children
· foot > feet
· mouse > mice
· ox > oxen
· sheep > sheep (同字)
· fish > fish (或 fishes – 若是形容不同種類的魚)