CSG210

Nouns and Articles

199

Plural of Nouns

The plural of nouns in Spanish is formed by adding the plural endings -s or -es. A definite arti-cle, los before masculine nouns and las before feminine nouns, indicates the plural of nouns. Follow these guide lines:

•    For nouns that end in a vowel, add -s.

el cafe/los cafes    cafe/cafes    la    casa/las    casas    house/houses

el caso/los casos    case/cases    la    fruta/las    frutas    fruit/fruits

el vino/los vinos    wine/wines    la    nma/las    iiinas    girl/girls

•    For nouns that end in a consonant, add -es.

el papel/los papeles    paper/papers; role/roles

el reloj/los relojes    clock/clocks

Some spelling changes need to be observed:

•    Singular nouns ending in -z change to -ces in the plural.

el lapiz/los lapices    pencil/pencils

la matriz/las matrices    matrix/matrices

•    Nouns ending in -i and -u add -es and keep the accent mark in the plural. There are only a few nouns in this group.

el manati/los manaties    manatee/manatees

el tabu/los tabues    taboo/taboos

•    Nouns with accent marks on the last syllable lose the accent mark in the plural.

el camión/los camiones    truck/ trucks

el frances/los franceses    Frenchman/Frenchmen

el león/los leones    lion/lions

el marques/los marqueses    marquis/marquis

ejercicio

Escribe el plural de los sustantwos y de los articulos.

8.    el restaurante

9.    la carne _

10.    el agua _

11.    la gula _

12.    el padre _

13.    el te mor _

14. el domingo

1.    el seńor _

2.    la reina _

3.    el alma _

4.    el avión _

5.    la leona _

6.    la flor _

7.    la carcel (prison) _