名词分为专有名词和普通名词两大类。普通名词又分为个体名词和集体名词。在句子中可数名词要么前边加冠词，要么用其复数形式。名词的复数通常加s，但以s，x，ch，sh结尾的词es；以辅音字母＋y结尾的词把y变成i，再加es。不规则名词的复数有其特殊形式。物质名词和抽象名词为不可数名词。名词有主格(作主语)、宾格(作宾语)和属格(表示所属关系)。冠词分为不定冠词和定冠词，它们有其基本用法和特殊用法。数词分为基数词、序数词和分数词，数词与名词在实际运用中要呼应。
2. 有些抽象名词的意思可以转变成为具体名词，这时要用其复数形式
The insurance company paid $10000 in damages for the accident. ("damage"本来为不可数名词"损害"，变复数后意思是"损失赔偿费"。)
单复数含义不同的名词还有：communication(通讯)--communications(通讯系统，通讯工具)；cloth(布)--clothes(衣服)；content(内容)--contents(目录)；convenience(便利)--conveniences(便利设备)；humanity(人类)--humanities(人文科学)；necessity(需要)--necessities(必需品)；pain(疼痛)--pains(辛劳)；ruin(毁灭)--ruins(废墟，遗迹)；sand(沙子)--sands(沙地，沙滩)；wood(木材)--woods(树林)；work(工作)--works(工厂，著作)。
另外，有些名词通常只用复数形式，如：fundamentals(基本原则)，goods(货物), means(方法), rapids(急流)，shorts(短裤), sweets(欢乐), valuables (贵重物品)。
三、同步练习（Correct errors, if any,in the following sentences:）
1. The scholars met once a year to exchange esperiences.
2. Foreign ship are not allowed to fish in our territoral water.
3. I went to the doctor for an advice about my health.
4.The letter contained important information.
5.In the afternoon I did some baby-sittings,for it is a fun looking after children.
6.The congregation宗教的集会［会众］was not numerous that night,but they seemed to be listening attentively to my lecture.
7.Poultries are dear in the city.
8.The board of director is shaking heads at the chairman's speech.
9.The merchandises have arrived undamaged.
四、答案
1. The scholars met once a year to exchange esperience.
2. Foreign ship are not allowed to fish in our territoral waters.
3. I went to the doctor for an advice about my health.
4.The letter contained an important piece of information.
5.In the afternoon I did some baby-sittings,for it is fun looking after children.
6.The congregation were not numerous that night,but they seemed to be listening attentively to my lecture.
7.Poultry家禽(鸡、火鸡、鹅、鸭等); 鸡类are dear in the city.
8.The board of directors are shaking heads at the chairman's speech.
9.The merchandise have arrived undamaged.
