John is always happy to go on missions abroad.

But what he likes even more is the preparation for

the mission. He takes his time when he buys something for the mission because he wants to be sure
of its quality, but he is also very careful about the prices. He does not want to spend too much on too
many things.
After he checks the shops that have sales, he picks everything he needs from there:
from towels to bottles of shampoo, tubes of toothpaste and even electric razors.
However, if he has too little time to prepare for his mission, he prefers to do his shopping from the
supermarket. The prices can be a little higher but there he finds all he wants including toothbrushes,
electronics and clothes like trousers of different colors and fabrics.
If by any chance he forgets to buy some batteries, he can always find them at the PX or at
thecommissary.
After such a busy shopping session, all he has to do is to prepare his uniform. Usually, his wife is
kind enough to iron his shirts and trousers, while John polishes his boots and replaces his old name
tag with a new one. Then, he puts on his uniform without forgetting the belt and the cap.
When his luggage is prepared and John knows all his objectives for the new mission, he feels
confident enough to face the new challenging tasks.

The Plural of Nouns

The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding s or es to the singular form of the same noun.

Spelling Rules for forming the plural of nouns

Legend:

a letter is/was transformed

mark of plural (s / es) was added

1.
2. Nouns ending iny 3. Nouns 4. Nouns ending in
General
ending in
f / fe
rule
sh / ch /
s / ss / x
To form
the plural
of most
nouns
we add
s.

a) Nouns ending
Nouns
invowel & y => we
ending in
simply add s to form sh / ch /
the plural.
s / ss /
x receive
es to form
the plural.

belt
a)
belts
key keys
beret toy toys
berets
day days
fabric
fabrics
idea
b) Nouns ending in
ideas
consonant + y=> y
mission becomes i and we add

es
missions

5. Nouns ending ino

a) Nouns ending in a) Nouns ending

f transform
inconsonant + o =>add
the fin v and receive es to form the plural.
es; Nouns ending in
fe transform
the fin v and receive
s.

brush
a)
a)
brushes
half halves
hero heroes
watch
leaf leaves
tomato tomatoes
watches
wolf wolves
torpedo torpedoes
church life lives
volcano volcanoes
churches
wife wives
branch b) Other nouns
b.1) Most nouns of
branches ending in f have two foreign originending in
bus
plural forms: they can o receives to form the
buses
simply receive s or c plural.
dress

dresses
glass
glasses
box
boxes
fox
foxes
b)
city cities
month battery batteries
months commissary
razor commissaries
dictionary
razors
dictionaries
shirt
family families
shirts
suit
suits
tag
tags

hange the f inv and b.2) There are some

receive es.
nouns of foreign
origin which havetwo
plurals: with sor es.

b)
scarf scarfs
scarves
dwarf dwarfs
dwarves

b.1)
piano pianos
banjo banjos
octavo octavos
b.2)
soprano sopranos
sopranoes
zero zeros zeroes

c) Some nouns
c) Nouns ending in
ending in f/fe
vowel and oreceive s to
receive s to become form the plural.
plurals.
c)
chief chiefs
gulf gulfs
roof roofs

c)
radio radios
portfolio portfolios
kilo kilos
photo photos
kangaroo kangaroos

The Plural of Nouns

6. Other nouns, designating objects that come in separable pairs, are usually plural, but
have

also

singular

form.

For example: a shoe a pair of shoes.

shoe shoes
slipper slippers
boot boots
sock socks
sandal sandals
chopstick chopsticks
glove gloves
7. Some nouns do not follow any rules when forming the plural and that is why they are

called irregular plurals.

man men
woman women
child children
person people
mouse mice
tooth teeth
foot feet
goose geese

The Plural of Nouns

Pronunciation Rules for the Plurals

Final s pronounced [s]

Final s pronounced
[z]

When the letter s (mark When the letter

of plural) follows unheard s (mark of plural) follows
consonants like [k]; [f];
one vowel or a voiced
[p]; [t]; [] it is
consonant like [b]; [d];
pronounced [s].
[g]; [l]; [m]; [n]; []; [r];
[v] this letter s is
pronounced [z].
fabric fabrics
chief chiefs
cap caps
suit suits
boot boots
month months

idea ideas
shoe shoes
tomato tomatoes
piano pianos
mob mobs
led leds
tag tags
sale sales
uniform uniforms
button buttons
song songs
razor razors
life lives

Final group of letters

pronounced [iz]
Usually the group of
letters es(mark of plural)
that is added to nouns
ending in sh / ch / s / ss
/ x is pronounced [iz].

toothbrush
toothbrushes
watch watches
branch branches
bus buses
dress dresses
box boxes

Back
Finish

UNIT 4 WRITING

Email vs. Note

Tips about how to write an email:

Email means electronic mail;

An Email can be formal or informal;
The subject of an email must be stated clear;
It is no need to include addresses or dates in the text of emails;
Informal emails often begin with Hi + name, not Dear + name. (the greeting);
In the opening sentence we usually thank the recipient (the person we are writing to)
for their last email(phone call, letter, etc);
In the closing sentence we usually mention a future plan or wish (e.g. I hope you
can come./ Write soon.);
At the end of an email to a friend or colleague we write Best wishes, + name. For a
close friend or family member we can write Love, + name.

Email vs. Note

No
.

BASICS

FORMAL/ NEUTRAL

INFORMAL

Dear Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. Smith

Dear Mary

Hi / Hello Mary
Mary, ... ( or no name at all)

1.

GREETING

2.

PREVIOUS
CONTACT

Thank you for your email

Thanks for your email.
of ...
Re (regarding) your email, ...
Further to your last email, ... Sorry I havent written for
I apologize for not getting in ages, but Ive been really
contact with you before now. busy.

3.

REASON
FOR
WRITING

I am writing in connection
with ...
I am writing with regard
to ...
In reply to your email, here

Just a short note about ...

Im writing about ...
Heres the ... you wanted.
Please note that ...

are ...
We would like to point out
that ...
4.

GIVING
I am writing to let you know
INFORMATI that ...
ON
I am delighted to tell you
that ...
We regret to inform you
that ...

5.

ASKING
Could you give me some
FOR
information about ...
INFORMATI I would like to know ...
ON
Im interested in
receiving/finding out ...

Can you tell me a little more

about ...
Id like to know ...
Please send me ...

6.

FINAL
Thank you for your help.
COMMENTS Do not hesitate to contact us
again if you require any
further information.
Please feel free to contact
me if you have any questions.

Thanks again for ...

Let me know if you need
anything else.
Just give me a call if you
have any questions.

7.

GREETING

Looking forward to ... (+

ing)
Best wishes to ...
See you soon.
Bye (for now)/ All the best

I am looking forward to ...

Give my regards to ...
Best wishes
Regards

Just a note to say ...

Good news!
Unfortunately, ...

EMAIL EXAMPLE:
From: Maria (mary.cat@yahoo.com)
To: Carla (jones.carla@hotmail.com)
Cc:
Subject: My last shopping spree
Hi Carla,
How are you? I hope youre well. Thanks for your last email. This time Im
writing to tell you about my last shopping spree.
As you know my father works in the military, so living on a base is a little

bit different from living in a city. The base is practically a small city where
you can find everything you need. There are a lot of shops but the one I
enjoy going most of the time is the P.X. Here you can buy a lot of things at
good prices.
Last week, for example, I went there with my mother and they just
started the sales season. So I tried on a lot of clothing and finally I bought
2 pairs of trousers and 3 pairs of shoes. My mother tried on some dresses
but they didnt fit well. So she decided to buy some towels, a bottle of
shampoo and a bottle of perfume. It was a real deal!
NOTE
A note is a brief informal letter.
It is written in order to thank someone for ... ( a reason) or help someone remember
something.
There are thank you notes for gifts, invitations, friendship, hospitality etc.
No.

BASICS

INFORMAL

1.

GREETING

Dear ... / Name / ...( or no name at all)

2.

REASON FOR
WRITING

I so greatly appreciate ...

Im honored ...
I am very thankful ...
Im delighted ...
We were touched ...
I truly enjoyed ...
We are truly grateful ...
I am much obliged ...
I was inspired ...
I relished ...
I was dazzled ...
How adorable of you ...

3.

FINAL
COMMENTS

4.

CLOSE

Thanks for thinking of me ...

Thanks so much for your very kind gift
/ invitation.
Thanks again, for your very thoughtful
help.
Sincerely,
With warm thanks,
Love,

Best Always,

NOTE EXAMPLE:
Dear Steve:
I am so thankful for running my errands for me last Friday. I
needed that extra day to recuperate from the flu. Life is so much
easier with great friends like you!
Thanks again, for your very thoughtful help.
Love,
Martha
Exercise 1

Choose the right sequence to build up an email:

Last week, for example, I went there with my mother and they just
started the sales season. So I tried on a lot of clothing and finally I bought
2 pairs of trousers and 3 pairs of shoes. My mother tried on some dresses
but they didnt fit well. So she decided to buy some towels, a bottle of
shampoo and a bottle of perfume. It was a real deal!

How are you? I hope youre well. Thanks for your last email. This time I
m writing to tell you about my last shopping spree.

As you know my father works in the military, so living on a base is a

little bit different from living in a city. The base is practically a small city
where you can find everything you need. There are a lot of shops but the
one I enjoy going most of the time is the P.X. Here you can buy a lot of
things at good prices.

Hi Carla,

Love,
Maria G.

Well, thats all for now! I hope you enjoy the sales season, too! Write
me soon!

c. D B C A F E

Dear Joe:
I forgot

a letter to Commander Adams. Please take

to mail

to

the

post

office.

my letter

You

must

buy

and

an

envelope.

Ill

stamps

when
pay you back

we

meet.

so

greatly

your

help.

appreciate

Best

,
alw ays

Your roommate, Carl