ESL Tips LACK OF PLURAL MARKERS ON MODIFIERS Although plural nouns in English usually end in an added -s, the words that modify them do not add -s. The little boys think that they are special. (Little and special modify boys.) They want their busy mothers to buy them new toys every week. (Busy modifies mothers; new modifies toys.) The sentences above show that there is usually no plural form for modifiers in English. The exceptions are the modifiers this and that, which have plural forms: this these; that those: This little boy thinks that he is special These little boys think that they are special. He wants that toy. He wants those toys. Be especially careful to choose correctly between the singular this and the plural these. They are pronounced very differently. Get a native English-speaker to help you hear the difference between these forms, so that you will have an easier time showing that difference in your writing.

CONTENTS MAIN PAGE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS Technical Requirements Navigating Sentence Sense Using Applications Using a Word Processor ESL TIPS CHARTS AND TABLES Auxiliary Verbs Common Verb Contractions Use of Modal Auxiliaries The Four Forms of Regular Verbs Common Irregular Verbs Some Common Prepositions Verbs, Gerunds and Infinitive Completers Summary of Comma Use Uses of Reported Speech Clause Connectors Summary of Solutions for Run-ons Agreement With to do, to have & to be Pronouns Spelling Chart Correction Tally OTHER INTERNET RESOURCES SEARCH ENGINE