1.可数名词都有复数形式,大多数以加词尾-S的方式构成。在加-S词尾时,要注意两类情况:
1)以s, x, ch, sh收尾的词,要加-es:
classes, boxes, matches, brushes
2)以“辅音+y”结尾的词,要变y为i, 再加es:
city-cities, country-countries
其他直接加-s,如:girls, teachers, rooms
2.几种特殊情况:
1)有些名词有特别的复数形式(有个别名词单复同形):
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)有些外来词仍保有原来的复数形式,如:
phenomenon-phenomena (现象)
stratum-strata (阶层)
thesis-theses (论文)
3)以o结尾的词,有些加-s,有些加-es:
radios, zoos, studios, photos, pianos, kilos, heroes, Negroes, Potatoes, tomatoes
4)以f或fe结尾的词,多数变f为v,再加-es:
leaf-leaves life-lives
个别词只加-s: roofs, chiefs, handkerchiefs
2.s词尾读音方法如下:
1)在[p][t][k][f]等清辅音后读[s]:cups, cats, cakes, roofs.
2)在[s][z][t][d]等音后读[iz]:buses, ashes, peaches, ages
3)其他情况下读[z]:girls, dogs, lives, photos.