a, an and plurals
One or many?
- For one thing, use a / an: a book, an apple.
- For many, use the plural: books, apples.
- Small words, but English uses them all the time.
a and an
- a before a consonant sound: a car, a dog.
- an before a vowel sound: an egg, an hour (h is silent).
- Use them only with singular countable nouns.
Explore
a or an?
Use a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound.
Practice
Choose: I eat ___ apple.
“apple” begins with a vowel sound → an apple.
Plurals: -s, -es, -ies
- Most nouns: add -s → book → books.
- After -s, -sh, -ch, -x: add -es → bus → buses.
- Consonant + y: change y to i, add -es → baby → babies.
Practice
Write the plural of “city”.
Consonant + y → change y to i, add -es: city → cities.
Practice
Translate into English: 我有两只猫。
Two + plural noun: “I have two cats.” (not “two cat”)
Irregular plurals (learn these!)
- man → men, woman → women, child → children.
- foot → feet, tooth → teeth, person → people.
- No -s here — you must remember them.
Practice
What is the plural of “child”?
“child” is irregular: child → children.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I have dog. → ✓ I have a dog. — a singular noun needs a / an.
- ❌ two book → ✓ two books — add -s after numbers.
- ❌ a hour → ✓ an hour — the h is silent. Listen to the sound, not the letter.
Practice
Match the singular to its plural.
man → men and child → children are irregular; box → boxes (-es); city → cities (y → ies).
Practice
Is this correct? “She is a engineer.”
engineer starts with a vowel sound → an engineer.
Key idea
- a / an = one (an before a vowel sound).
- Plural = usually + -s (or -es / -ies).
- Some are irregular: children, people, men, women.
Practice
What is in your bag? Write one sentence with a plural noun (for example: two books, three pens).
Example: “I have three pens and two books.”