quiz 5.1 notes

Some nouns ending in f or fe form their plurals by changing the f or fe to v and adding -es.

Singular Plural wife wives

The same thing is true when adding -est to the adjective large. The word largest is still an adjective:

The Canada goose is the largest of these three types of waterfowl.

The suffix -er is added to a one or two syllable adjective when comparing two things.

The suffix -est is added to a one or two syllable adjective when comparing three or more things.

If the singular form of the word ends in s,

add an apostrophe and another s to form the possessive. singular possessives that end in s that do not include the second s Examples: Lois's book Sis's hair Texas's flag James' soup Bess' shoes Chris' solution

If the plural of a word ends in s,

add only the apostrophe to form the possessive.

To show separate ownership,

add the possessive form to both nouns.

To show joint ownership,

add the possessive form to the second noun only.

-an, -ian, -ean

of, or belonging to American -- belonging to America

-al

of, or pertaining to; action or process fictional -- pertaining to fiction

-ist

one who monotheist -- one who believes in one God

-er, -ee, -eer, -ess, -or

one who ruler-- one who rules

The silent e rule has several exceptions, such as hoeing, canoeing, shoeing, and tiptoeing. Words ending in ce or ge keep the final e when adding a suffix beginning with a or o.

peace + able = peaceableoutrage + ous = outrageous

-ary

person or thing belonging to or revolutionary -- person connected connected with something with revolution

-ness

quality of kindness -- quality of being kind

apostrophe

show possession, not plural.

-ship

skill, state of kingship -- state of being king

Adding a suffix to a word does not always change the part of speech of that word. For example, when adding suffixes to words to compare two or more things,

the part of speech remains the same. If the word begins as an adjective, the word remains an adjective.

Irregular Noun Plurals

they do not add -s or -es to the singular form. based on very old forms been in the language since its beginning

-en

to make shorten--to make shorter

-fy

to make, form into clarify -- to make clear

-less

without shoeless -- without shoes

When adding a suffix beginning with a vowel to a word ending in a consonant, double the final consonant:

(1) if the word contains only one syllable and the final consonant is preceded by a single vowel; bat + er = ba tter (2) if the word contains more than one syllable and the accent falls on the last syllable: repel' + ent = repellent begin' + er = beginner

When adding suffixes to words ending in a consonant, do not double the consonant:

(1) if the word contains only one syllable and the final consonant is preceded by more than one vowel; droop + y = droopy (2) if the word contains more than one syllable and the accent does not fall on the last syllable; differ + ence = difference (3) if the suffix begins with a consonant. pig + ment = pigment

BUT dye - dyeing

(to avoid confusion with die - dying)

Nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant form their plurals in one of three ways.

1. Most musical terms ending in o form their plurals by adding -s. 2. Some nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant form their plurals by adding - s. 3. Other nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant form their plural by adding - es.

Suffix

Meaning Example

-ant

Adding -ant to a verb creates a noun meaning "a person who _____".

-ant verb to adjective

Adding -ant to the verb defy creates the adjective defiant. Toddlers sometimes defy the rules. That does not mean that they will grow up to be defiant.

-ence

Adding -ence to a verb can show a quality or an action. Verb Noun assist + ant assistant consult + ant consultant refer + ence reference

Some nouns ending in f or fe reflect the changes in English. These nouns can use either the -s ending or can change the f or fe to v and add -es.

Singular Plural scarf scarfs or scarves

This entry is slightly less straightforward. It lists the origin of the word first and notes its movement to French with the "F." However, it omits the reference to Middle English. The base form of the word poor etymology choice

Example: [L. successio: cf. F. succession. See Succeed]

Suffixes can change adjectives to nouns.

For example, -dom, and -ness change the adjectives wise and kind, to the nouns wisdom and kindness.

Suffixes can change adjectives to verbs.

For example, -en and -ize can change the adjectives dark and tranquil to the verbs darken and tranquilize.

Suffixes can change nouns to verbs.

For example, -ise/-ize, -fy change the nouns sympathy, advice, and liquid to the verbs sympathize, advise, and liquefy.

Suffixes can change nouns to adjectives.

For example, -ish and -ly can change the nouns child and love to the adjectives childish and lovely.

Suffixes can change adjectives to adverbs.

For example, -ly can change the adjectives clear, glad, and sad to the adverbs clearly, gladly, and sadly.

Suffixes can change verbs to nouns.

For example, -ment added to a word, changes the verbs judge and achieve to the nouns judgment and achievement.

Capital letters, signs, acronyms, and words being discussed form their plurals by adding an -s.

I spilled my CDs all over the floor. The paper was filled with ifs, ands, and buts.

Rules for use of apostrophes:

If a word does not end in s, add 's to form the possessive whether the word is singular or plural.

Regular plurals.

Most nouns form their plurals by adding -s.

Most nouns ending in f or fe form their plurals by adding -s.

Noun: His beliefs are very strong. (plural noun form) Verb: He believes in God. (third person singular verb form)

Nouns ending in y.

Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding -s.

Lower case letters should include an apostrophe.

Please write your k's and t's more clearly.

Some compound nouns do not fit these rules.

Singular Plural two by four two by fours ten year old ten year olds

These nouns can take either their own foreign plural ending or an English plural. In some cases the English endings are more commonly used and will eventually replace the foreign ending.

Singular Foreign English formula formulae formulas index indices indexes concerto concerti concertos seraph seraphim seraphs

Some foreign nouns keep their foreign plural endings.

Singular Plural alumna alumnae basis bases vertebra vertebrae crisis crises alumnus alumni oasis oases monsieur messieurs parenthesis parentheses chateau chateaux emphasis emphases

Most compound nouns form their plurals by adding the regular plural ending -s or - es to the final word in the compound

Singular Plural baby-sitter baby-sitters kick-off kick-offs

both "s" and "es" is correct

Singular Plural banjo banjos or banjoes lasso lassos or lassoes motto mottos or mottoes halo halos or haloes

Some nouns with the same form have an s in both the singular and the plural. Do not confuse these forms with regular plural nouns.

Singular Plural corps corps Swiss Swiss

Some nouns keep exactly the same form in both the singular and the plural.

Singular Plural deer deer moose moose sheep sheep Chinese Chinese trout trout

Some irregular nouns form their plurals by changing their vowel sound.

Singular Plural goose geese tooth teeth man men mouse mice foot feet louse lice

Compound nouns based on irregular plurals are very complex. Check your dictionary to be certain.

Singular Plural man-of-war men-of-war mousetrap mousetraps (not micetraps) oxcart oxcarts (not oxencart) man hour man hours (not men hours) manservant menservants (both parts change to the plural form) woman driver women drivers (both parts change to plural)

A few irregular nouns form their plurals by adding an old plural ending.

Singular Plural ox oxen child children brother brethren "brethren" contains both the vowel change and the plural ending; it is rarely used now except in religious settings.

Words ending in a silent e.

When a suffix beginning with a vowel is added to a word ending with a silent e preceded by a consonant, the final e is dropped. advise + able = advisableimagine + ary = imaginary

Words ending in y.

When a word ends in a y preceded by a vowel, add the suffix without changing the y. buy buying gray grayish

Words ending in ie.

When a word ends in ie, change the ie to y when adding the suffix -ing. tie tying lie lying die dying

Adding the suffix -er to the adjective large does not change the part of speech. The word larger is still an adjective:

When it comes to waterfowl, the mallard is larger than the bantam duck.

Though apostrophes can be used with number figures and signs, they are not necessary and are not the commonly accepted form.

Your $s and &s look the same.

-ment

act or state of judgment--act of judging

-ance, -ence

act, quality, or state of being independence--quality of being independent

-hood

act, quality, state of being motherhood --state of being a mother

-tude

act, quality, state of being similitude -- quality of being similar

-dom

act, quality, state of being wisdom -- state of being wise

-ion, -tion, -ation, -sion

action, state of, or result of inflation -- state of being inflated

Note: Words ending in the /k/ sound which is spelled ch

add -s:

--able/-ible suffixes. If a word with the same root is closely related to the word you are spelling, check the position of the a or i that matches your ending.

admiration admirable imagination imaginable horrid horrible conversion convertible

If a word is not complete without a suffix, then -ise is usually the correct form to use.

advise disguise despise

Words ending in a double e (ee) drop one e only before adding a suffix beginning with -e, -ed, -en.

agree + ed = agreed

-ize/-ise suffixes. If a word is complete or nearly complete before the suffix is added, -ize is usually correct.

apology + ize = apologize character + ize = characterize memory + ize= memorize

When a word ends in a y preceded by a consonant change the y to i and add the suffix unless the suffix begins with i.

beauty + ful = beautiful rely + ance = reliance BUT rely + ing = relying

-able, -ible

capable of, fit for, worthy of lovable -- worthy of love

-ise, -ize

cause to resemble idolize-- treat like, or cause to resemble an idol

-ic

characterized by nostalgic -- characterized by nostalgia

Several exceptions to the rules above include the following words.

day daily dry dryness gay gaily shy shyness

If words ending in -ation, -ition, or -ion, are not closely related to the word in question, then -able is the most common ending.

eat eatable bear bearable

When a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a word ending with a silent e, the e is kept.

excite + ment = excitement achieve + ment = achievement

When a compound noun consists of a main word and its modifiers, then the plural is formed by adding -s to the main word.

father-in-law (main word + modifiers) major general (modifier + main word) Singular Plural father-in-law fathers-in-law major general major generals

-phobia

fear of claustrophobia -- fear of being closed in

In Old English

foot was spelled fot in the singular and fet in the plural Man was spelled mann in the singular and menn in the plural we have changed the spelling for each word; but we have kept the vowel sound change from the singular to the plural.

Nouns ending in s, ss, sh, ch, x, or z

form their plurals by adding -es.

Names ending in y

form their plurals by adding -s even if the y is preceded by a consonant.

Nouns ending in o preceded by a vowel

form their plurals by adding -s.

Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel

form their plurals by adding -s.

Some foreign words have become such a part of the English language that they have taken on the regular English plural

forms of -s or -es. Singular Plural rodeo rodeos bonus bonuses

-ful

full of beautiful -- full of beauty

-y

full of muddy -- full of mud

-ous, -uous

full of virtuous--full of virtue

When the silent e is preceded by a vowel, the final e is frequently dropped.

glue + ing = gluing

"of Saxon origin."

indicates that the word is originally Saxon

compound noun

is a combination of two or more words that can be written as one word (tablespoon), as separate words (woman driver), or as hyphenated words (son-in-law).

-like

like childlike -- like a child

-ly

like, in the manner friendly -- like, or in the manner of a friend

-ish

like, of or relating to childish -- like a child

In compounds,

make only the last word possessive. my father-in-law's car someone else's book his stepbrother's radio my two sisters-in-law's ideas the passer-by's impression my grandparents' anniversary

-ite

native, follower Brooklynite -- native of Brooklyn

Some of these s-ending nouns are used more frequently in the singular. Others are used almost always in the plural.

news scissors breeches mathematics pincers trousers physics tongs slacks measles clippers pants