1.可數名詞都有復數形式,大多數以加詞尾-S的方式構成。在加-S詞尾時,要注意兩類情況:
1)以s, x, ch, sh收尾的詞,要加-es:
classes, boxes, matches, brushes
2)以“輔音+y”結尾的詞,要變y為i, 再加es:
city-cities, country-countries
其他直接加-s,如:girls, teachers, rooms
2.幾種特殊情況:
1)有些名詞有特別的復數形式(有個別名詞單復同形):
man-men woman-women fish-fish
tooth-teeth foot-feet sheep-sheep
child-children goose-geese deer-deer
mouse-mice ox-oxen aircraft-aircraft
2)有些外來詞仍保有原來的復數形式,如:
phenomenon-phenomena (現象)
stratum-strata (階層)
thesis-theses (論文)
3)以o結尾的詞,有些加-s,有些加-es:
radios, zoos, studios, photos, pianos, kilos, heroes, Negroes, Potatoes, tomatoes
4)以f或fe結尾的詞,多數變f為v,再加-es:
leaf-leaves life-lives
個別詞只加-s: roofs, chiefs, handkerchiefs
2.s詞尾讀音方法如下:
1)在[p][t][k][f]等清輔音后讀[s]:cups, cats, cakes, roofs.
2)在[s][z][t][d]等音后讀[iz]:buses, ashes, peaches, ages
3)其他情況下讀[z]:girls, dogs, lives, photos.