Terms to know

1. Plural Noun: To make regular nouns plural, add ‑s to the end.

• If the singular noun ends in ‑s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add ‑es to the end to make it plural. ...

• In some cases, singular nouns ending in -s or -z, require that you double the -s or -z prior to adding the -es for pluralization.

2. Collective Noun: a noun that denotes a group of individuals (e.g., assembly, family, crew ).

• Here are some examples of common collective nouns used for animals:

• An army of ants.

• A flock of birds.

• A flock of sheep.

• A herd of deer.

• A hive of bees.

• A litter of puppies.

• A murder of crows.

• A pack of hounds.

3. Appositives: is a grammatical construction in which two elements, normally noun phrases, are placed side by side, with one element serving to identify the other in a different way; the two elements are said to be in apposition.

For example:

The puppy, a golden retriever, is my newest pet.

Babe Ruth, a baseball player with the New York Yankees, held the home-run record for nearly 40 years.

• • • • • (A baseball player with the New York Yankees is the appositive phrase. It identifies Babe Ruth.)

The lindy hop, a dance style, became popular in the 1920s.

• • • • • (A dance style is the appositive phrase. It identifies lindy hop.)

Rio de Janeiro, a city in Brazil, is famous for its Carnival celebration.

• • • • • • • (A city in Brazil is the appositive phrase. It identifies Rio de Janeiro.)

Why Are Appositives and Appositive Phrases Important?

Whether they are essential or nonessential, appositives and appositive phrases make your writing more descriptive by providing key details about a person, place, or thing.

4. Irregular Plural Nouns: is a noun that becomes plural by changing its spelling in other ways than adding an “s” or “es” to the end of the word.

Examples are below.