Is Proper Noun Plural Or Singular (11 Important Facts)

Let’s look at facts related to the topic ‘Is proper noun plural or singular?’.

Proper noun can be both “Singular” and “Plural” but on the basis of that particular entity. If the entity is in ‘Plural Number’ then the proper noun can be called ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Can proper nouns be plural?

Proper noun refers to names of specific people, place, object or thing and it can be either in “Singular” mode or in “Plural” mode. We can change a singular proper noun to a plural proper noun by following two rules.

First Rule – We can transform a singular proper noun to “Plural Proper Noun’ by adding‘s’ to the existing singular proper noun.

Second Rule – We can transform a singular proper noun to “Plural Proper Noun’ by adding ‘es’ to the existing singular proper noun.

Example 1 – I had a discussion with my friend, Mr. Gomes Butler.

Explanation 1 – Here, the proper noun ‘Mr. Gomes Butler’ can be called ‘Singular Proper Noun’ because it is in “Singular Mode”.

Example 2 – I had a discussion with Butlers of our society.

Explanation 2 – Here, the proper noun ‘Butlers’ is in “Plural Mode”. The singular proper noun ‘Butler’ is a ‘Title’ and has been transformed to plural proper noun ‘Butlers’ by addition of ‘s’ to the singular proper noun.

When proper nouns are plural?

Singular proper nouns become plural when that respective proper noun refers more than one entity but that entity must belong to the same group, category or family. Here we must be concerned about the point that “Plural Entities” of only same names, same group or same categories can be referred by plural proper nouns.

Let’s look at below listed situations where a ‘Singular Plural Noun’ can be transformed to ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Situation 1 – A proper noun can become plural proper noun if it refers more than one name of “Any Living Being”.

Situation 2 – A proper noun can become plural proper noun if it refers more than one name of any “Place”.

Situation 3 – A proper noun can become plural proper noun if it refers more than one name of any “Object”.

Example of Situation 1 –

Pijush likes to play with twin brothers ‘Seths’.

Explanation – Here, the proper noun ‘Seths’ can be recognized as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ as it refers to twin brothers of same family.

Example of Situation 2 –

I love to eat pizza of the Macdonalds and spend some coffee time at the same place.

Explanation – Here, the proper noun ‘Macdonalds’ can be recognized as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ as it refers to branches of same food store.

Example of Situation 3 –

I want to have some Mathematics books from the old book store.

Explanation – Here, the proper noun ‘Mathematics practice books’ can be recognized as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ as it refers to books of same subjects.

Which proper nouns are plural?

Proper nouns which indicate more than a single specific entity are called plural proper nouns. Proper nouns must belong to same group, type or category to be called ‘Plural Proper Noun’. Let’s look at below listed points to regard proper nouns as plural.

Point 1 – Proper noun which indicates more than one person of same group, family or category can be called ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Point 2 – Proper noun which indicates more than one animal of same group, family or category can be called ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Point 3 – Proper noun which indicates more than one object of same group, family or category can be called ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Point 4 – Proper noun which indicates more than one place of same group, family or category can be called ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Example – My in-laws are the Bajorias and you all must meet with them with full dignity.

Explanation – Here, the word ‘Bajorias’ is an example of plural proper noun as it indicates more than one person of same family.

Why are proper nouns plural?

Sometimes proper noun can be defined as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ when the same can be referred more than one entity of same group, same family or same category. Proper nouns are not always in plural mode. Proper nouns can be singular or plural but on the basis of entity which they are referring at. We must also keep in mind that singular proper noun do not accept the article ‘The’ front of it but plural proper noun sometime accept ‘The ‘ in front of it.

Example – I am standing at the windows and looking at the Balkans.

Explanation – Here, Balkans is a range of mountains and can be referred as ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Which proper nouns are always plural?

Singular proper nouns can be easily changed to plural proper nouns by adding suffixes to the singular proper nouns. Some nouns can be always used as plural, like; scissors, clothes etc. But they are mainly common nouns. Plural proper nouns are formed from singular proper nouns.

Example 1 – Rina likes to play violin.

Example 2 – Rina like to play custom made wooden violins.

Explanation – Here, the first example is representation of ‘Singular Proper Noun’ and the second example is representation of ‘Plural Proper Noun’.

Plural proper noun examples –

Example 1 – I am not going to the Duttas for the dinner party.

Example 2 – Pijush is not interested to eat Alfanso mangoes.

Example 3 – Sandip likes to write with Zitter pens.

Example 4 – I like to decorate my room with Dalia flowers.

Example 5 – Rita wants to go to Nagpur to have some Nagpur oranges.

Explanation 1 –

Here, the proper noun ‘Duttas’ is in ‘Plural Mode’. Thus, it can be referred as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ because it refers to people with same title.

Explanation 2 –

Here, the proper noun ‘Alfanso mangoes’ is in ‘Plural Mode’. Thus, it can be referred as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ because it refers to mangoes of same breed or group.

Explanation 3 –

– Here, the proper noun ‘Zitter pens’ is in ‘Plural Mode’. Thus, it can be referred as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ because it refers to pens of same company.

Explanation 4 –

Here, the proper noun ‘Dalia flowers’ is in ‘Plural Mode’. Thus, it can be referred as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ because it refers to flowers of same breed or category.

Explanation 5 –

Here, the proper noun ‘Nagpur oranges’ is in ‘Plural Mode’. Thus, it can be referred as ‘Plural Proper Noun’ because it refers to oranges of same state.

Can proper nouns be singular?

Yes, proper nouns can be singular. In fact, most of the time use of ‘Proper Noun’ is in ‘Singular Mode’. ‘Singular Proper Nouns’ refer to single entity or names which are unique in their group, category or type. We must keep in mind that a proper noun must starts with a ‘Capital Letter’.

Example 1 – I am going to Darjeeling for mountain trekking in rare mountain areas.

Explanation – Here, the proper noun ‘Darjeeling’ is in ‘Singular Mode’ because it is a single entity and name of a particular mountain range.

When proper nouns are singular –

Proper nouns are can be categorized as ‘Singular Proper Noun’ when it refers to any single entity of

• A particular person
• A particular place
• A particular organization
• A particular thing.

Example – Pijush likes to wear shirts of Raymond brand.

Explanation – Here, the proper noun ‘Raymond’ is in ‘Singular Mode’ because it is a name of a particular brand.

Singular proper noun examples –

Example 1 – I am interested to meet with Mr. Dutta to finalise the meeting.

Example 2 – Pijush is going to America to do higher study in Architecture.

Example 3 – Group study is very important to practice the subject Mathematics.

Example 4 – The best animal of the Alipur Zoo is the tiger, Shiva.

Example 5 – I am boarding on Monday morning to go to Chennai.

Explanation 1 –

Here, the proper noun ‘Mr.Dutta’ can be called ‘Singular Proper Noun’ because it is a title of a particular person.

Explanation 2 –

In the second example, we can found three proper nouns.

• The first singular proper noun ‘Pijush’ is name of a particular person.
• The second singular proper noun ‘America’ is a name of a particular place.
• The third singular proper noun ‘Architecture’ is a name of a stream.

Explanation 3 –

Here, the proper noun ‘Mathematics’ can be called ‘Singular Proper Noun’ because it is a name of a particular subject.

Explanation 4 –

In the fourth example, we can found two proper nouns.

• The first singular proper noun ‘Alipur Zoo’ is name of a particular zoo.
• The second singular proper noun ‘Shiva’ is a name of a particular tiger.

Explanation 5 –

In the fifth example, we can found two proper nouns.

• The first singular proper noun ‘Monday’ is name of a particular day.
• The second singular proper noun ‘Chennai’ is a name of a particular place.

Which proper noun can be either singular or plural?

Proper nouns can be either in ‘Singular Mode’ or in ‘Plural Mode’ but on the basis of entity or the name of the person, place or object. A same proper noun can be either singular or plural but the difference will be created by adding the suffix “s” or the suffix “es” to the singular proper noun.

Example 1 – I am not going to have a dark chocolate in this late night.

Example 2 – I am not going to have dark chocolates in this late night.

Explanation –

In the first example, the proper noun ‘dark chocolate’ is in singular mode while the proper noun ‘dark chocolates’ in the second example is in ‘Plural Mode’.

Conclusion –

A singular proper noun can be transformed to plural proper noun by adding either “s” or “es” to the singular plural noun.