Plurály

Plurály refers to the plural forms of words and the grammatical category of number that marks more than one reference. In linguistics, plural interacts with other grammatical categories such as gender, case, and agreement, and it can affect nouns, pronouns, adjectives, determiners, and sometimes verbs. The specifics of how plurality is encoded vary widely between languages.

Forms and formation methods vary. Many languages use suffixes or inflectional endings to signal the plural (for example, English nouns often take an -s: book → books). Others rely on internal vowel changes, consonant alternations, or completely different stem forms (examples include man → men or mouse → mice). Some languages employ multiple plural patterns, including irregular or broken plurals, while others have zero plural marking on certain nouns. There are also pluralia tantum nouns, which occur exclusively in the plural form (such as scissors or trousers in English).

Typology and variation. Some languages distinguish additional number categories beyond singular and plural, such as dual (two) or paucal (a few), influencing agreement and verb conjugation. Others maintain a strict singular–plural distinction or rely on numerals and quantifiers to indicate plurality. In some linguistic traditions, plural forms correlate with grammatical gender, noun classes, or case systems, leading to complex concord patterns across adjectives and verbs.

Semantics and usage. Plural forms convey numerical meaning, but they can also express collective reference, generic readings, or emphasis. In syntax, plurality often governs agreement between the noun and its modifiers or predicates. Plurals are a fundamental aspect of grammar in many language families, reflecting historical sound changes, morphological systems, and syntactic conventions.