Plural

Spanish Plural

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2017-10-06

In grammar, the word plural denotes a quantity of more than one, in contrast to singular, which denotes a quantity of one. For example:

dos libros, cien libros, muchos libros - two books, one hundred books, many books
the word libros is plural, it is a plural noun

tres cajas, algunas cajas, varias cajas - three boxes, some boxes, several boxes
the word cajas is also a plural noun

Singular forms of these nouns would be libro (book) and reloj (watch), as in the following examples:

un libro - one book or a book 
la caja - the box

The terms singular and plural are values of the grammatical category of number. Number affects nouns (as we have already seen above), pronouns, adjectives and verbs. Here are some simple examples of plural pronouns, adjectives and verbs:

Nosotros hablamos. - We speak.  
Nosotros is a plural pronoun and hablamos is a plural verb.

Esas mujeres han cogido nuestras revistas. - Those women have taken our magazines.  
Esas is a plural demonstrative adjective, han cogido is a plural verb and nuestras is a plural possessive adjective. Mujeres and revistas are plural nouns.

Todos mis sueños son buenos. - All my dreams are good.
Todos, mis and buenos are plural adjectives and son is a plural verb. Sueños is a plural noun.


 

Lessons with more detail on Plural

Using los or las to say "the" in Spanish (plural definite articles)
Forming regular plural masculine and feminine adjectives in Spanish
Forming the plural of masculine and feminine adjectives ending in -e and -a in Spanish
Forming the plural of -s ending nationality and place of origin adjectives in Spanish
Forming the plural of masculine and feminine Spanish adjectives ending in -z and -l
Forming the singular and plural of adjectives ending in -án, ón, -or
Forming regular masculine and feminine nouns in Spanish (singular and plural)
Using unos, unas + plural nouns to say some / a few in Spanish (Artículo indefinido -plural)
Using plural definite article + number + noun
Using numbers with nouns in Spanish
Using unos, unas + number = about/approximately
Gender and plural of nouns ending in -e in Spanish
Gender and plural of Spanish nouns ending in -ma (Greek origin)
Gender and plural of Spanish nouns ending in -esa, -triz, -ina, -isa
Gender and number of nouns ending in a consonant in Spanish (except -z)
Forming the plural of -e ending nationality and origin adjectives in Spanish
Forming the plural of nouns ending in -z in Spanish
Nouns that are plural in English but singular in Spanish, and vice versa (collective nouns)
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