Spanish Grammar in Context

A reference grammar with video examples from the Spanish in Texas collection

  • Credits
  • Index
  • About
  • Home
  • Adjectives
    • Introduction to Adjectives
    • Adjectives – Formation and Placement
    • Comparisons and Superlatives with Adjectives
    • Past Participles as Adjectives
    • Todo
    • Indefinite Adjectives
    • Adjectives Practice
  • Adverbs
    • Introduction to Adverbs
    • Adverbs – Formation and Placement
    • Comparative Adverbs
    • Adverbs Practice
  • Conjunctions
    • Introduction to Conjunctions
    • Coordinating Conjunctions
    • Subordinating Conjunctions
    • Conjunctions Practice
  • Determiners
    • Introduction to Determiners
    • Definite Articles
    • Indefinite Articles
    • Possessive Determiners
    • Demonstrative Determiners
    • Expressions of Quantity
    • Determiners Practice
  • Negation
    • Introduction to Negation
    • Basic Negation: No
    • Alternate Forms of Negation
    • One-word Negative Sentences
    • Negation Practice
  • Nouns
    • Introduction to Nouns
    • Nouns – Number
    • Nouns – Gender
    • Nouns Practice
  • Prepositions
    • Introduction to Prepositions
    • Common Prepositions
    • Por vs. Para
    • Prepositions Practice
  • Pronouns
    • Introduction to Pronouns
    • Subject Pronouns
    • Direct Object Pronouns
    • Indirect Object Pronouns
    • Reflexive Pronouns
    • Order of Object Pronouns
    • Relative Pronouns
    • Indefinite Pronouns
    • Demonstrative Pronouns
    • Possessive Pronouns
    • Pronouns Practice
  • Verbs
    • Introduction to Verbs
    • Tense/Mood
    • Introduction to Present Tense
      • -ar Verbs (Regular) Present Tense
      • -er Verbs (Regular) Present Tense
      • -ir Verbs (Regular) Present Tense
    • Ser “To Be”
    • Haber “To Have”
    • Reflexive Verbs
    • Preterit
    • Present Perfect
    • Imperfect
    • Narration: Preterit vs. Imperfect
    • Pluperfect
    • Future
    • Conditional
    • Past Conditional
    • Imperative Mood (commands)
    • Introduction to Subjunctive
      • Subjunctive – Present
      • Subjunctive – Past or Imperfect
      • Subjunctive – Present Perfect
      • Subjunctive – Pluperfect
      • Tense Sequences
    • Si Clauses (If Clauses)
    • Indirect Speech
      • Indirect Speech – Present
      • Indirect Speech – Past
    • Passive Voice
    • Language Contact
    • Verbs Practice
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Practice quizzes: nouns

Nouns – Number

In Spanish, a noun is always either singular or plural. It is usually introduced by a determiner, which reflects the number of the noun.

Regular Plural Formation

In Spanish the plural is formed by adding an -s to the singular form of the noun for words ending in a vowel: a, e, i, o, and u,

un pájaro, dos pájaros one bird, two birds

una ballena, dos ballenas one whale, two whales

or by adding –es to the singular form of the noun for words ending in a consonant or a stressed vowel.

un animal, dos animales one animal, two animals

un delfín, dos delfines one dolphin, two dolphins

Hay más oportunidades y hay otras áreas que explorar.
There are more opportunities and other areas to explore.

Pude trabajar con niños y con animales al mismo tiempo pero no animales que… que encuentras en cualquier lado. O sea con ballenas, con delfines, con pájaros exóticos.
I could work with kids and animals at the same time but not animales that you find anywhere but with whales, dolphins, exotic birds.

Nouns Ending in -s in the Singular 

Nouns ending in –s do not change in the plural.

la dosis, las dosis the dosage, the dosages

el lunes, los lunes Monday, Mondays

Y al fin los viernes nos pagaba según las horas que uno trabajaba.
And at the end on Fridays he paid us according to the number of hours one worked.

Nouns Ending in -z in the Singular

For nouns ending in -z plural is formed by adding –es as for other words ending in a consonant, but additionally the –z changes to –c resulting in a –ces ending.

la luz, las luces the light, the lights

el juez, los jueces the judge, the judges

Ya que me junté con mi novia no más voy como unas veces, una vez al mes.
Since I’ve gotten together with my girlfriend, I only go a few times, one time a month.

Siempre sentí que tenía raíces, que viví en una comunidad grande. Nunca tuve mucha privacidad obviamente.
I always felt that I had roots, that I lived in a big community. I never had much privacy obviously.

COERLL • The University of Texas at Austin • info@coerll.utexas.edu Creative Commons License

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