Why are there singular and plural in English?

Question

I've been asked by one Japanese friend of mine, but I have no idea. We don't have the difference actually.

Could you tell me the reason as easy as I can understand, please?

I'd like to know the necessity of distinguishing between them. Thanks.

I have a knowledge of singular and plural.

I'm asking why it is nesesarry.

I mean, for example,
" I have 3 car."
is understandable and grammatically easier.

Answer 1

Different language histories, basically. English comes from a language family (Indo-European) where the original prehistoric speakers, for whatever reason, felt the need to indicate number by changing the form of nouns, or "inflecting" them. Japanese comes from an entirely separate language family that doesn't indicate number that way.

Answer 2

English is a fluid language and thus "I have three cars", just rolls of the tongue so much easier.It looks better when written that way too.It is customary to spell the number as opposed to inserting a digit.
If you look at the sentences,it is easier for the mind to make sense of the way that I have written it.It is a quicker means of comprehension.
It unclutters the sentence very nicely.Once that you begin to put things down in a willy-nilly fashion,you soon find that it becomes chaotic.
Look at the way IM has trashed so much of the language.If you are unfamiliar with the lingo,you have to stop and figure out what is being said.
English typically limits the insertion of numbers into a sentence.When speaking of temperature,speed or height,it is customary to use digits.
It really speeds up reading and comprehension to do it that way.
That is why there are singular and plural usages in English.
In closing,notice how I inserted IM into this answer.You instantly know what it means and it is smoother than writing instant messaging.

Answer 3

I think having singular and plural in English is necessary in the sense that you dont have to put the number ALWAYS. For example, if you say I hve a car, it is automatic that you have one car only. And if you say cars, that means you have more than one. If the number is not necessary in a sentence, then you limit the use number (as in 1, 2, 3, 4.. and so on).

Answer 4

I don't know the reason but I do know it's a rule - from the Dictionary for the work "plural" - "of or belonging to the grammatical category of number used to indicate that a word has more than one referent - as 'children' or 'them'.

Rule: When you use a number to modify a noun, the noun must agree with the number. Any number greater than one must modify a plural noun.

Answer 5

A singular noun is used only when you have one of something. The plural form of the word is for two or more (usually formed by adding an "s" to the end but not always).

Ex: I have one dog and she has two dogs.

Answer 6

you've made a clear point with your example, "i have 3 car"
remember however, that numbers are not always used. you may be able to use numbers up to a certain point, but there are cases in which numbering things will be a hassle.

example:
i have 254 friend.

Answer 7

Because early in the 1600's when pioneers came here, they noticed that indians would forinstance say " i have 2 apple"
So pioneers thought that that was a miss use of the language, so they came up with like just adding a "s" instead of not adding a s and classifying at the bigining of how many of apples there was, like i have 2 apple. so pioneers said for plural, " i have apples" or "i have 2 apples" to be more specific. the came up with the plural name in 1623, following the singulair name in 1640.

Answer 8

It is just like having one and more than one numbers and to distinguish between them. For instance, we say one apple, two or more apples!

Answer 9

I have one pencil in my pocket, I have four pencils on my desk.
My friend Sam has a dog, my friend Trevor has three dogs.

Basically, you put an 's' on the end.

'My car' (meaning one car)
'My cars' (meaning any number from two up, you have to specify how many)

Hope this helps a bit.

Answer 10

I think it's to make the language more interesting?
Or maybe "sheeps" sounds a bit hard to pronounce / confusing for someone who is learning English, especially if it was their first language