EXPLANATION The word player refers to one player, a single player. Thus we say that the word player is singular. If we wish to talk about more than one player, we simply add an s to player to make players. We say that players is the plural form of player.
Adding the letter s to a noun is the most common way to show plural number in English. Some languages create plurals by other methods, such as placing a modifying word beside the noun. People used to such languages often forget to add s to nouns when the number is plural. They might think that the word six, for example (as in the typical error) shows that player is plural. If you are from a non-English speaking background, remember that, in English, the noun itself must be varied according to the number ... and the most common way to make a noun plural is to add s.
People who have problems knowing when to add s to nouns often also have a problem with verbs. It helps if we recognise the following common pattern in English. In the present tense, an s will often end either the noun or the verb, but not both. When the noun is singular, the noun will not end in s but the verb often will; when the noun is plural, it will often end in s but the verb will not, as in:
- a horse gallops → horses gallop
- a snail crawls → snails crawl
- the phone rings → phones ring
- a bird chirps → birds chirp
- the baby sleeps → babies sleep
- the trumpet sounds → trumpets sound
There are some nouns that are confusing because they may appear to be plural but they are really singular: for example, the word advice is often used to refer to all the accumulated bits of advice given over a period of time (so we do not say advices.) Similarly, words such as experience can encompass all the things that have happened to someone; their range of experiences results in experience.
Some of these tricky nouns have been used in these sentences to show you the correct use.- a. Shrubs provide refuge for all sorts of creatures.
- b. Most states have daylight saving.
- c. Despite all his experience, he did not get the job.
- d. We hope that this scheme will help reduce the road toll.
- e. In later life, we often wish that we had heeded our parents’ advice.
- f. They had to carefully balance their weight in the boat.
- g. After the tsunami, international aid was sought from other countries.
- h. A problem with home schooling can be lack of interaction with other children.
- i. A lot of the infrastructure of the city was damaged by the earthquake.
- j. Many countries are having to deal with skyrocketing inflation.