a, an and plurals · a / an 与复数
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.
One apple is a snack. Ten apples are a plan.
一个还是很多?
- 表示一个,用 a / an:a book、an apple。
- 表示很多,用复数:books、apples。
- 都是小词,但英语里随处可见。
一个苹果是零食，十个苹果得有计划。
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.
a 和 an
- a 用在辅音音前:a car、a dog。
- an 用在元音音前:一个an 鸡蛋 /egg(一个鸡蛋)、an hour(h 不发音)。
- 只和单数可数名词搭配。
a or an? · a 还是 an?
Use a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound. · 辅音音前用 a,元音音前用 an。
Choose: I eat ___ apple. · 选一选:I eat ___ apple。
“apple” begins with a vowel sound → an apple. · apple 以元音开头 → 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.
复数:-s、-es、-ies
- 大多数名词加 -s:book → books。
- 以 -s、-sh、-ch、-x 结尾,加 -es:bus → buses。
- 辅音 + y,把 y 变 i 加 -es:baby → babies。
Write the plural of “city”. · 写出 city 的复数。
Consonant + y → change y to i, add -es: city → cities. · 辅音 + y → 把 y 变 i 加 -es:city → cities。
Translate into English: 我有两只猫。 · 翻译成英语:我有两只猫。
Two + plural noun: “I have two cats.” (not “two cat”) · 数字 + 复数名词:I have two cats。(不是 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.
不规则复数(要背!)
- man → men,woman → women,child → children。
- foot → feet,tooth → teeth,person → people。
- 这些不加 -s,只能记住。
What is the plural of “child”? · child 的复数是哪个?
“child” is irregular: child → children. · child 是不规则的: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.
常见错误
- ❌ I have dog. → ✓ I have a dog。—— 中文能说"我有狗",英语单数可数名词前必须有 a / an。
- ❌ two book → ✓ two books。—— 数字后面的名词要加 -s,最容易忘。
- ❌ a hour → ✓ an hour。—— h 不发音;看读音,不看字母。
Match the singular to its plural. · 把单数和它的复数配对。
man → men and child → children are irregular; box → boxes (-es); city → cities (y → ies). · man → men、child → children 是不规则;box → boxes 加 -es;city → cities(y 变 i 加 es)。
Is this correct? “She is a engineer.” · 这句对吗? “She is a engineer.”
engineer starts with a vowel sound → an engineer. · engineer 以元音开头 → an engineer。
- a / an = one (an before a vowel sound).
- Plural = usually + -s (or -es / -ies).
- Some are irregular: children, people, men, women.
- a / an = 一个(an 用在元音音前)。
- 复数通常 + -s(或 -es / -ies)。
- 有些不规则:children、people、men、women。
What is in your bag? Write one sentence with a plural noun (for example: two books, three pens). · 你的包里有什么?用一个复数名词写一句话(例如:two books、three pens)。
Example: “I have three pens and two books.” · 例如:I have three pens and two books。