Formation of the plural of nouns. When a noun ends with o preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed by adding s to the singular; as, folio, folios; ratio, ratios; cameo, cameos; studio, studios. Some nouns ending with o preceded by a consonant, form the plural by adding s, while others add es, but without increasing the number of syllables; as, alto, altos; canto, cantos; potato, potatoes; tomato, tomatoes. Write the plural forms of the following nouns: Add s Zero, cuckoo, domino, solo, piano, lasso, proviso, bamboo, kangaroo, quarto, memento, soprano, halo, two. Hark, how the jolly cuckoos sing "Cuckoo!" to welcome in the spring.-JOHN LYLY. Add es Cargo, hero, veto, tornado, grotto, buffalo, echo, motto, volcano, calico, torpedo, fresco, embargo, negro, desperado, mulatto, mosquito. Children fill the groves with echoes of their glee. -WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. Spell the following words with one only: Until, always, also, almost, already, welcome, belfry, welfare, balance, diligent, altogether, military. And, balancing on a blackberry-brier, The bobolink sang with his heart on fire. —ANON. Some words pronounced alike. 1. Copy carefully. 2. Write from dictation. italicized words in sentences of your own. 1. Over his head beholds 3. Use the A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow.-JOHN Milton. 2. Teach infant cheeks a hidden blush to know, 3. And little hearts to flutter at a beau. - Alexander Pope. And the Sabbath bell That over wood and wild and mountain dell 4. Where none admire, 'tis useless to excel; Where none are beaux, 'tis vain to be a belle. - LORD GEORGE LYTTLETON. 5. Yet Folly ever has a vacant stare, WILLIAM Cowper. 6. And in the hush that followed the prayer, Was heard the old clock on the stair. - HENRY WADSWORTH Longfellow. 7. There's music in the sighing of a reed; There's music in the gushing of a rill. - George Gordon, Lord Byron. 8. In nature's infinite book of secrecy Formation of the plural of nouns. When a noun ends with y preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed by adding s; as, boy, boys; key, keys; toy, toys; valley, valleys. Remember'd joys are never past. - JAMES MONTGOMERY. When a noun ends with y preceded by a consonant, the plural is formed by changing y into i and adding es, but without increasing the number of syllables; as, lily, lilies; daisy, daisies; duty, duties. But who will watch my lilies, When their blossoms open white? By day the sun shall be sentry, And the moon and stars by night!-BAYARD TAYLOR. The dances ended, all the fairy train For pinks and daisies search'd the flow'ry plain. - ALEXANDER Pope. Some nouns have the same form in both singular and plural; as, sheep, deer, swine, trout. Some nouns have two plural forms; as, brother, brothers, brethren; penny, pennies, pence. The plural of some nouns is formed quite irregularly; as, man, men; woman, women; child, children; foot, feet; goose, geese; tooth, teeth; ox, oxen; louse, lice; mouse, mice. Men are but children of a larger growth.-JOHN Dryden. K Some words pronounced alike. 1. Copy carefully. 2. Write from dictation. 3. Use the italicized words in sentences of your own. 1. If Happiness have not her seat And center in the breast, We may be wise, or rich, or great, But never can be blest. ROBERT BURNS. -- 2. I had rather hear a brazen canstick turn'd, And that would set my teeth nothing on edge, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. 3. Slow broke the gray cold morning; again the sun shine fell, Flecked with the shade of bar and grate, within my lonely cell. -JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 4. The moonlit skater's keen delight, The sleigh-drive through the frosty night. 5. Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. - Bible. 6. We do not what we ought, What we ought not, we do. —Matthew Arnold. 7. Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all. |