Important things to keep in mind when using nouns are which article to use and how to form the plural and how to form the possessive case.
Article
Direct article - the
example: the house
Indirect article a / an
a - if the first letter of the following word is pronounced like a consonant
example: a car, a university
an - if the first letter of the following word is pronounced like a vowel
example: an apple, an hour
Plural
general rule: singular form + s
example: a car - two cars
after s, ch, x, z the plural is formed by adding es
example: a box - two boxes
y after a consonant is changed to ie before the plural s
example: a city - two cities
But: y after a vowel is not changed
example: a boy - two boys
After o the plural is usually formed by adding es (this is not the case, however, with words used for electric gadgets and music: radio, video, disco)
example: a tomato - two tomatoes
Exercise - singular or plural?
Possessive Case of Nouns
adding 's | of phrase |
---|---|
usually used for people | usually used for things |
Ronny's brother | the name of the school |
If there is a relation to people when using the possessive case with unanimated things, often the s is added instead of using an of phrase.
example: Germany's economy or the ecomony of Germany
When using the possessive case with a time, s is added.
example: a three weeks' holiday