The number refers to the singular and plural of person, animal and thing. The number shows the use of morphemes to mark the plural. In Spanish, the most of the plural form is usually manifested by adding ’s’ to the singular noun.
Example:
Carta (letter) - cartas (letters)
Libro (book) - libros (books)
The articles 'el' 'la' of the singular also change when referring to the plural.
The singular feminine article 'la' becomes 'las' for the plural
and the masculine article of the singular 'el' becomes 'los'
So we have the following statements:
Singular - - plural
La carta (the letter) las cartas (the letters)
El libro (the book) los libros (the books)
Keep in mind: this is the first rule to apply
Here are other rules and their exceptions to form the plural form in Spanish:
1.- Nouns that end in a consonant, it is added -es at the end of the word.
Example:
Singular - - plural
La pared (the Wall) las paredes (the Walls)
El país (the country) los paises (the countries)
El reloj (the clock) los relojes (the clocks)
La sal (the salt) las sales (the salts)
2.- .- Nouns ending in -z change the -z by -c and it is added -es at the end of the word, getting -ces
Example.
Singular - - plural
La raíz (the root) las raices (the roots)
La nuez (the nut) las nueces (the nuts)
El tapíz ( the carpet) lost apices (the carpets)
El lapíz (the pencil) los lapices (the pencils)
3.- Nouns that accept two types of morpheme, that is, the plural can end in -s or in –es.
Example:
Singular - - plural 1 - - Plural 2
Maniquí - maniquíes -- maniquís (Mannequin)
Bambú - bambúes - bambús (bamboo)
4.- Nouns that have an accent in the singular form, and when forming its plural it loses the accent or changes it for another vowel.
Example:
Singular - - plural
Régimen regimenes (Regime – regimes)
Carácter caracteres (Character – characters)
Espécimen especímenes (Specimen – specimens)
5.- Nouns that end in -ión with accent in the 'o' is added -es at the end of the word and lose the accent when forming its plural.
Example:
Singular - - plural
Comunión - comuniones (Communion - communions)
Satisfación – satisfaciones (Satisfaction - satisfactions)
6.- Nouns that do not undergo any change and can be used in plural and singular.
Example:
Singular - - plural
La crisis – las crisis (the crisis - the crises)
El lunes - los lunes (on Monday - on Mondays)
La caries - las caries (the cavities)
7.- Some Nouns always work in the plural form.
Lentes (eyeglasses), nupcias (nuptials), víveres (groceries) tenazas (pincers).
Exercises
Practice the following exercises. Change the singular noun given to the plural form, use the article in plural (las -los) according to their gender. Follow the example.
S = singular P = plural
S: maldad (evil) P: las maldades (the evils)
Crisis (crisis) Sofa (sofa) pez (fish) sol (sun)
amor (love) situación (situation) mano (hand) pájaro (bird)
lapíz (pencil) llave (key) lentes (eyeglasses) nariz (nose)
olor (smell) cantidad (quantity) avión (airplane) maniquí (mannequin)
Bambú (bamboo) carácter (character) indigente (indigent) amistad (friendship)
Well that's all friends, we will continue in the next post. The exercise will be answered the next grammar Spanish post. Remember: The next post will be ready in 72 hours. Any questions, make your comment. Thank you for reading. Until the next