child: one child, two children

The idea

Use a child for one young person and children for more than one. The plural is irregular: two children. Use is with one child and are with children.

Examples

• A child is drawing a bird.
• Two children are playing outside.
• The child is with a teacher.
• My sister has three children.
• The children are reading together.
• This book is for a young child.

Watch out

Do not add -s to children. The singular child normally needs a determiner such as a, the or my.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the singular form. A ___ is drawing. (child / children)

   Show answer or example answer

   child

   child is singular after a.

2. Choose the plural for two. Two ___ are playing. (child / children)

   Show answer or example answer

   children

   children is the irregular plural after two.

3. Choose the verb for a plural subject. The children ___ reading. (is / are)

   Show answer or example answer

   are

   are agrees with the plural subject children.

Use it today

Describe one child and then a group of children doing an activity.