PLURAL OF LATIN AND GREEK WORDS IN ENGLISH.

Some words which retain their original Greek or Latin forms (mainly used in the technical

English) make their plurals according to the rules of Greek and Latin with English

pronunciation.

Latin words: singular ending  -a         plural ending  -ae (alga - algae)

-us                        -i   (radius - radii)

-um                     -a (curriculum - curricula) Greek words: singular ending -is        plural
ending -es (synthesis-syntheses)

-on                     -a (criterion - criteria) But some words follow the English rules, e.g.
dogma - dogmas. Sometimes there are two plural forms with different meanings, e.g. appendix -
appendixes or appendices, a medical term; appendix - appendices, addition to a book.

Task 1 Change the following sentences from plural to singular.

1. These data suggest a change in volume.

2. What criteria did the scientists use?

3. The formulae represent the molecular structures of the substances.

4. The investigated phenomena are not frequent.

5. Food plants have to compete with weeds pests,viruses and fungi.

6. The analyses of the results did not prove his hypotheses.

7. The eclipses revealed that Pluto's diameter is 2,300 km.

8. Which bird species are in danger of extinction in South America most of all?

Task 2 Write the plural form of the words in italics.

1. Even the best psychiatrists sometimes make mistakes in their diagnosis and treatment.

2. A scientist is supposed to generate hypothesis and test them against empirical observations.

3. Nuclear energy is produced using the heat generated by splitting the nucleus of atoms of certain
elements.

4. After analysing all the datum, they were able to draw conclusions.

5. Bacterium are capable of bringing about chemical reactions of amazing variety.

6. Atoms emit or absorb quantum of equal energy,

7. In the African rainforests more than 200 new plant species are being recorded each year.

8. It is difficult to explain all the phenomenon of the natural world.

9. What were the criterion for the assessment of the project?

10. Chemical equlllibrium may be classified into two groups, namely homogenous and heterogenous
equillibrium.

11. The analysis of the results of the research were done in three different institutes.

Task3 Find mistakes in the plural/singular forms and correct them.

1. Many insects can perceive frequencies of the spectra that are invisible to us.

2. Many bacteriums are of very great importance in industry.

3. Electrolyses is used for purifying certain metals.

4. The analysises reveal that the sediment contains mercury.

5. Students are now taught to collect datas, design different hypothesis and test them.

6. Some specimen of the same fossils are extremely rare.

7. Before making a decision, you need a lot of relevant informations and facts.

8. The temperature is marked on the horizontal axe of the graph.

9. If two alternative theories explain the same phenomenons, the simpler theory is the more useful.


CONSIST, CONTAIN OR INCLUDE?

Task 1 Complete the sentences below.

E.g. The periodic table consists of rows and columns. It contains elements. Different elements
include carbon, sulphur, hydrogen, oxygen etc.

1. The classic symptoms of exposure to toxic chemicals ...... headaches, sore throats

vomiting etc.

2. The world's trees ...... between 460-800 billion tonnes of carbon.

3. The local fauna ...... wolves, snakes and a wide range of unpleasant insects.

4. Each gene ...... millions of base pairs of four bases, arranged in the double stranded helix.

5. That catalyst...... platinum filters that remove pollutants.

6. The graphs do not...... information about the use of the cell.

7. Only one-fifth of air ...... oxygen, but this is quite enough for all ordinary purposes.

8. There is a range of alloys ...... lead and tin,

9. Common steel ...... one metallic element (Fe) and one non-metallic element (C).

10. Other greenhouse gases ...... carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons.

11. The report also ...... a table showing how much fat people can avoid by swapping one

type of meal for another.

12. The electrolyte in the battery ...... a mixture of distilled water and sulphuric acid.

13. The more aluminium the alloy ....... the less expensive it is.

14. Pollution can poison or kill the animals, ...... those raised for food.

Task 2 Find mistakes and correct them.

1. An electrolyte cell generally consists two electrodes.

2. The symptoms of the disease contain fevers, muscle fatigue, pain and depression.

3. Among its many illustrations, the book consists of drawings of high speed steam engine.

4. The exhibition consists of 10 new animal specimens that the museum did not have before.

5. Tap water includes impurities and can damage the lead plates inside the battery.

6. The "example diet " contains practical suggestions, such as halving the weekly consumption of
buttered bread, eating three egg-sized potatoes a day, etc.

7. The transition elements consist all the metals we commonly recognize as such - iron, copper,
chromium and cobalt, for example.

8. The chair includes a seat, a back, and four legs.


Task 2 Read the following extracts from letters of complaint. Write out the verbs in either the
simple past, ( e.g. he worked) or the present perfect (e.g. he has worked).

1. Last year we (not/have) ..... any serious complaints from our clients, but this year we
(already/receive)..... over twenty.

2. This is not the first time that we (have) ..... problems with the shipping company. Three months
ago they ( lose) ..... a consignment completely and they still (not/ find) ..... out what happened
to it.

3. I (look)..... into the problem, and it appears that the catalogue (be)..... out of date.

4. I (receive) ..... a consignment of furniture from you last week which we (order) ..... on May
12.

5. The error (be)..... due to a fault in the computer system which we now (put)..... right.

6. lam writing to apologize for the defective items you (receive) ..... last month, and to inform
you that we (credit)..... the sum of £ 342.67 to your account.

7. Our accounts department (inform) ..... me that we (not/yet/ receive) ..... payment for the items
we (send).......

8. We (not have)..... any business from Winford & Co. since we (make) .....an error with an
invoice.

9. We (lose) ..... a number of orders since we (start) ..... having problems with the switchboard.


ALPHABETICAL QUIZ

Each clue has a one-word answer beginning with the appropriate letter and is from the vocabulary of
chemistry.

A- a corrosive substance that turns litmus paper red

 B- a chemical species, ionic or molecular, capable of accepting or receiving a proton (hydrogen
ion) from another substance

 C- a substance that alters the velocity of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any

permanent chemical change

D- the more or less permanent structural breakdown of a molecule into simple

molecules/atoms

E- a substance made up of atoms with the same atomic number

 F- a material burnt to supply heat and power

 G- an air-like substance with the capacity to expand and not liquify or solidify at ordinary
temperature

H- one of a very large group of chemical compounds composed only of carbon and hydrogen

 I- a substance capable of stopping or retarding a chemical reaction

 J- a short cylindrical glass vessel with a wide mouth

 K- paraffin oil obtained from petroleum or coal

L- a substance which flows (like water)

 M- anything that has mass and takes up space

N- the central part of an atom

0- any mineral, rock, etc. from which a metal is obtained

P- the powder inside a flower which fertilizes other flowers

 Q- another name for mercury

 R- what remains or is left over

 S- a substance dissolved in a solvent

T- an instrument used for measuring temperature

U- a metallic element with atomic number 92, highly toxic and radioactive

V- the power of an element to combine

W- a material which is or has been useless

X- a heavy inert colourless, odourless gaseous element with atomic number 54

Y- a fungus causing alcoholic fermentation

Z- cipher, nought, nothing