Question

name ____ date ____
65 number in nouns, pronouns, and verbs
number shows whether a noun, a pronoun, or a verb is singular or plural.

• most nouns form their plurals by adding -s or -es. some, such as ox and mouse, form plurals irregularly: oxen, mice.
• this chart shows the different forms of personal pronouns in the nominative case—the case used for subjects and predicate nominatives.

	always singular	singular or plural	always plural
first person	i		we
second person		you
third person	it, she, he	they

• a verb form will always be singular if it has had an -s or -es added to it or if it includes the word has, am, is, or was. the number of any other verb depends on its subject.
• this chart shows verb forms that are always singular and those that can be singular or plural.

verbs that are always singular	verbs that can be singular or plural
(it, she, he) writes<br>(it, she, he) has<br>(i) am<br>(it, she, he) is<br>(i, it, she, he) was	(i, we, you, they) write<br>(i, we, you, they) have<br>(we, you, they) are<br>(we, you, they) were

practice a identifying number in nouns, pronouns, and verbs
read each word or group of words. then, write whether the word or words are singular, plural, or both.
example: writes
answer: singular

1. children ____ 4. leg ____
2. hears ____ 5. tote bags ____
3. you ____ 6. we ____

practice b labeling nouns, verbs, and pronouns
read each sentence. label the underlined word or words as singular or plural. (consider how the word or words are used in the sentence.)
example: the students use the computers every day.
answer: plural

1. the voice recorder fit into my pocket. ____ 6. she is the new class president. ____
2. the dog often jumps over the fence. ____ 7. i wrote several stories. ____
3. we took out several library books. ____ 8. he has researched the topic. ____
4. dave was unhappy. ____ 9. reporters have called us several times. ____
5. many branches fell to the ground. ____ 10. it was the busiest airport in the city. ____

writing and speaking application
write three sentences about your favorite pet. use singular and plural nouns, verbs, and pronouns. read your sentences to a partner. your partner should identify the singular and plural nouns, verbs, and pronouns. then, switch roles.
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Explanation:

For Practice A, we use the rules: plural nouns often end in -s/-es (irregular plurals like "children" are plural), verbs with -s/-es are singular, "you" can be singular/plural, singular nouns have no plural ending, and "we" is always plural.
For Practice B, we analyze each word's use: singular nouns have no plural marker, verbs with -s are singular, "we" is plural, "was" pairs with singular subjects, plural nouns end in -es, singular pronouns refer to one person, "has" is singular, "have" is plural, and "it" is singular.

Answer:

Practice A

1. children - plural
2. hears - singular
3. you - both
4. leg - singular
5. tote bags - plural
6. we - plural

Practice B

1. voice recorder - singular
2. jumps - singular
3. We - plural
4. was - singular
5. branches - plural
6. She - singular
7. I - singular
8. has - singular
9. have - plural
10. It - singular

Writing and Speaking Application (Sample Sentences)

1. My fluffy cat (singular noun) chases (singular verb) its (singular pronoun) toy mouse (singular noun) around the living room every afternoon.
2. Our playful dogs (plural noun) love (plural verb) to fetch their (plural pronoun) colorful balls (plural noun) in the backyard.
3. I (singular pronoun) brush my cat's (singular possessive pronoun) soft fur (singular noun) and we (plural pronoun) play (plural verb) with her favorite feather wands (plural noun) before bedtime.