Tài liệu Oxfore guide to english grammar part 56 pdf

294 Consonant + y 294 Consonant + y When a word ends in a consonant + y, the y changes to ie before s. study studies lorry lorries Before most other endings, the y changes to i. study studied silly sillier lucky luckily happy happiness We do not change y after a vowel. day days buy buyer stay stayed NOTE a The possessive forms are singular noun + apostrophe + s, and plural noun + apostrophe. the lady's name the ladies' names b A one-syllable word usually keeps y before ly: shyly, slyly, dryly/drily. c We do not change y when it is part of a person's name: Mr and Mrs Grundy the Grundys. d We do not change y in by: stand-bys, lay-bys. PAGE 379 2 We keep y before i. copy copying hurry hurrying NOTE We change ie to y before ing. die dying lie lying But pay, lay and say have irregular ed-forms: paid Also day daily. , laid , said PAGE 380 38 Irregular noun plurals 295 Summary Most countable nouns have a regular plural in s or es. hands dates buses. For details of spelling and pronunciation, • 290. But some nouns have an irregular plural. Here are some examples. Vowel and consonant changes • 296 man men wife wives Nouns which do not change in the plural • 297 one/two aircraft one/two sheep Irregular plural endings. • 298 children criteria stimuli NOTE a We also use men and women in words like Frenchmen, sportswomen. b The plural people is more usual and less formal than persons. Several people were waiting for the lift. A maximum of six persons may occupy this lift. A people is a large group such as a nation. The Celts were a tall, fair-skinned people. One day the peoples of this world will live in peace. 2 With some nouns we change f to v and add es/s. loaf loaves thief thieves life lives Also: calves, halves, knives, leaves, shelves, wives, wolves NOTE Some other nouns in f/fe are regular: chiefs, beliefs, cliffs, roofs, safes. A few have alternative forms, e.g. scarfs /scarves. 1 Some plurals are formed by changing the vowel sound. foot feet goose geese man men tooth teeth mouse mice woman women 296 Vowel and consonant changes 5 The usual plural of penny is pence, e.g. fifty pence. Pennies are individual penny coins. 297 Nouns which do not change in the plural Some nouns have the same form in the singular and plural. Singular: One aircraft was shot down. Plural: Two aircraft were shot down. These nouns are aircraft, hovercraft, spacecraft etc; some animals, e.g. sheep, deer, some kinds offish, e.g. cod, salmon; and some nouns ending in s, e.g. headquarters, means. • 154(3) NOTE a Some measurements (e.g. pound, foot) can be singular after a plural number, e.g. two pound/ pounds fifty. b For six hundred and twenty, • 191(1) Note c. analysis analyses crisis crises hypothesis hypotheses PAGE 381 298 Irregular plural endings 3 Some nouns have a regular written plural in ths, but the pronunciation of th changes. path paths Also: mouths, youths (= young people) NOTE Some other nouns in th are regular: months, births, deaths . Some have alternative forms, e.g. truths or 4 The plural of house is houses 298 Irregular plural endings 1 en child children ox oxen 2 a 3 i criterion criteria phenomenon phenomena medium media curriculum curricula NOTE Some nouns in on and um are regular, e.g. electrons, museums. 5 es 4 ae formula formulae / formulas stimulus stimuli cactus cacti /cactuses nucleus nuclei / nucleuses NOTE Some nouns in us are regular: choruses, bonuses. PAGE 382 39 Irregular verb forms 299 Summary A regular verb takes the endings s, ed and ing. For example, base form look, s-form looks, past tense looked, ing-form looking and past/passive participle looked. For more details, • 58. List of irregular verbs • 300 Some verbs have ah irregular past tense and participle. Base form: Did you write the letter? Past tense: I wrote the letter yesterday. Past participle: I've written the letter. We also use the irregular forms after a prefix such as re, un, out, mis. I've rewritten the letter. He undid the knot. Special participle forms • 301 Some special participle forms come before a noun. a drunken riot 300 List of irregular verbs Base form Past tense Past/passive participle Base form Past tense Past/passive participle PAGE 383 300 List of irregular verbs 39 IRREGULAR VERB FORMS PAGE 384 Base form Past tense Past/passive participle Base form Past tense Past/passive participle PAGE 385 300 List of irregular verbs . participle forms • 301 Some special participle forms come before a noun. a drunken riot 300 List of irregular verbs Base form Past tense Past/passive participle. and past/passive participle looked. For more details, • 58. List of irregular verbs • 300 Some verbs have ah irregular past tense and participle. Base