A2 Grammar lessons cover the rules, patterns, and structures you need at the A2 Elementary level. Each lesson explains a grammar point with clear examples, common mistakes to avoid, and practice opportunities. Topics are ordered to build on each other so you can work through them step by step.
Quick Answer The plural of thief is thieves. The word “thiefs” is not correct in English. One: The police caught the thief. More than one: The police caught three thieves. Thief Becomes Thieves — See the Pattern Look at these words. Can you see what happens? Did you see the pattern? The -f at the…
It’s fascinating to observe how certain nouns transform from singular to plural. The word “synthesis” is an intriguing case. It originates from the Greek “synthesis,” which means “to put together,” reflecting the action of combining different elements to create a cohesive whole. In the world of chemistry, synthesis refers to the process of creating complex…
Quick Answer The plural of synopsis is synopses. You change the -is ending to -es. One synopsis, two synopses. Synopsis and Synopses — See the Pattern The word synopsis comes from Greek. That is why the plural does not follow the normal English rule. Instead of adding -s or -es, you change the ending. Look…
The English language contains a plethora of nouns that maintain the same form whether they’re in the singular or plural. One such word that often causes confusion is “swine.” Frequently used to refer to a pig, the noun “swine” traces its origins from Old English and has peculiar properties in its usage, especially in its…
When discussing the grammatical number of certain items in the English language, we sometimes encounter terms that exist only in plural form. Take, for instance, the word ‘suspenders.’ These articles of clothing, typically used to hold up trousers, are referred to in the plural, leading to some confusion about whether they might also have a…
Quick Answer The plural of status is statuses. Just add -es to the end. This is the most common and natural form in everyday English. Status and Statuses — See the Pattern The word status comes from Latin. Some people think the plural should follow Latin rules, but in English we simply add -es. Look…
“Stigma” follows a more classical pattern of transformation. The original Greek term carried over into Latin, and eventually into English, has bestowed upon it two accepted plural forms: “stigmas” and “stigmata.” The prevalence of one form over the other often depends on the context in which the word is used, and both are correct depending…
Quick Answer The plural of stratum is strata. It comes from Latin, so it follows the Latin rule: change -um to -a. One: The scientist found one stratum of rock. More than one: The scientist found three strata of rock. Stratum, Strata — See the Pattern A stratum means a layer — like a layer…
Quick Answer The plural of spectrum is spectra or spectrums. Both are correct. Spectra follows the Latin rule, and spectrums follows the normal English rule. Spectrum, Spectra, Spectrums — See the Pattern The word spectrum comes from Latin. In Latin, words that end in -um change to -a in the plural. That is why we…
Quick Answer The plural of shrimp is shrimp. You can also say shrimps, but shrimp is much more common. Example: We ate shrimp for dinner last night. Shrimp or Shrimps — See the Pattern Look at these sentences. Can you see what happens to the word shrimp? Did you see the pattern? Most of the…
