Danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc (Irregular Plural Nouns) là một trong những chủ điểm ngữ pháp quan trọng nhưng thường bị bỏ qua trong kỳ thi IELTS. Khác với danh từ số nhiều thông thường chỉ cần thêm “-s” hoặc “-es”, danh từ bất quy tắc có hình thức số nhiều đặc biệt không theo quy tắc chuẩn. Việc sử dụng sai các danh từ này có thể ảnh hưởng trực tiếp đến band điểm Grammatical Range and Accuracy của bạn, đặc biệt trong Writing và Speaking.
Theo phân tích từ Cambridge IELTS 10-19, danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong:
- Speaking: Part 2 (mô tả người, sự kiện) và Part 3 (thảo luận về xã hội, giáo dục)
- Writing Task 2: Các dạng bài Opinion, Discussion, Problem-Solution
- Listening & Reading: Cần nhận diện chính xác để hiểu nghĩa và trả lời câu hỏi
Ví dụ vận dụng trong IELTS:
Speaking Part 2 (Describe a memorable experience):
“During my trip to Australia, I saw many unique wildlife species. The children at the zoo were fascinated by the kangaroos, and several women were taking photos of koalas.”
→ Phân tích: “children” (số nhiều của “child”), “women” (số nhiều của “woman”) – đây là những danh từ bất quy tắc thường xuyên xuất hiện trong bài thi Speaking.
Writing Task 2 (Education topic):
“The number of people pursuing higher education has increased dramatically. Many universities now offer specialized programs to help men and women balance their studies with family responsibilities.”
→ Phân tích: “people” là dạng số nhiều bất quy tắc của “person”, trong khi “universities” là dạng quy tắc với “-ies”.
Listening Section 2 (Tour guide):
“You’ll notice that the museum displays several ancient teeth found at archaeological sites. The feet of the statues show remarkable craftsmanship.”
→ Phân tích: “teeth” (tooth), “feet” (foot) – những danh từ liên quan đến cơ thể người thường có dạng số nhiều bất quy tắc.
Writing Task 1 (Describing data):
“The chart illustrates the number of mice used in laboratory experiments over a ten-year period. Interestingly, the data also shows trends in experiments involving sheep and fish.”
→ Phân tích: “mice” (mouse), “sheep” và “fish” giữ nguyên hoặc thay đổi hình thức – đây là những dạng bất quy tắc phổ biến.
Speaking Part 3 (Discussing social issues):
“Modern technology has changed the way children learn. Unlike previous generations, today’s youth have access to unlimited information online.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng nhiều danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc trong một câu phức tạp thể hiện khả năng ngữ pháp tốt.
Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học:
✅ Định nghĩa và phân loại danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc
✅ 8 nhóm danh từ bất quy tắc chính với công thức chi tiết
✅ Cách vận dụng vào 4 kỹ năng IELTS (Speaking, Writing, Listening, Reading)
✅ 30+ câu ví dụ Band 7-9 từ đề thi thực tế
✅ Các dạng đặc biệt và ngoại lệ cho Band 8+
✅ Top 10 lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
✅ Bài tập thực hành có đáp án chi tiết
Danh Từ Số Nhiều Bất Quy Tắc Là Gì?
Định Nghĩa
Danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc (Irregular Plural Nouns) là những danh từ có hình thức số nhiều không tuân theo quy tắc thêm “-s” hoặc “-es” vào cuối từ. Thay vào đó, chúng thay đổi nguyên âm, thêm hậu tố đặc biệt, hoặc giữ nguyên hình thức số ít.
Chức năng chính:
- Thể hiện số lượng nhiều hơn một đối tượng, người, hoặc sự vật
- Tạo sự đa dạng và chính xác trong diễn đạt tiếng Anh học thuật
- Phản ánh nguồn gốc lịch sử và sự phát triển của ngôn ngữ (từ tiếng Anh cổ, Latin, Hy Lạp)
Khi nào dùng trong IELTS:
- Speaking: Mô tả nhiều người (children, women, men), động vật (sheep, deer), hoặc các bộ phận cơ thể (teeth, feet)
- Writing Task 1: Miêu tả số liệu liên quan đến dân số, nghiên cứu khoa học (mice, bacteria)
- Writing Task 2: Thảo luận về các nhóm người, hiện tượng xã hội (people, phenomena, crises)
- Listening/Reading: Nhận diện chính xác để hiểu thông tin và tránh nhầm lẫn với dạng số ít
Tần Suất Xuất Hiện Trong IELTS
Theo phân tích từ Cambridge IELTS 10-19:
Speaking:
- Part 1: Tần suất trung bình – Các câu hỏi về gia đình, sở thích (“How many children are there in your family?”, “Do people in your country prefer cats or dogs?”)
- Part 2: Tần suất cao – Mô tả người (children, women, men), sự kiện có nhiều người tham gia, hoặc trải nghiệm liên quan đến động vật
- Part 3: Tần suất rất cao – Thảo luận về nhóm người trong xã hội (“How do people balance work and family?”, “What challenges do young children face today?”)
Writing:
- Task 1: Tần suất trung bình đến cao – Mô tả biểu đồ về dân số (people, men, women), nghiên cứu sinh học (mice, bacteria, fungi), hoặc dữ liệu nông nghiệp (sheep, deer)
- Task 2: Tần suất rất cao – Xuất hiện trong hầu hết các dạng bài, đặc biệt là Opinion và Problem-Solution essays khi bàn về người (people, children, individuals) và hiện tượng xã hội (crises, phenomena)
Listening/Reading:
- Xuất hiện thường xuyên trong các đoạn văn học thuật, tour guide, conversation
- Cần nhận diện để hiểu nghĩa chính xác: “foot/feet”, “tooth/teeth” trong y tế; “datum/data” trong khoa học; “crisis/crises” trong kinh tế
Band Score Impact:
- Band 6: Sử dụng một số danh từ bất quy tắc phổ biến (people, children) nhưng còn mắc lỗi với các dạng khác (childs, womans, mouses)
- Band 7: Sử dụng chính xác các danh từ bất quy tắc thông dụng trong nhiều contexts khác nhau
- Band 8-9: Sử dụng linh hoạt cả các dạng phức tạp (phenomena, criteria, analyses), tự nhiên, không lỗi, kết hợp với từ vựng học thuật
Phân loại các nhóm danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc thường gặp trong IELTS với ví dụ minh họa từng nhóm
Công Thức & Cấu Trúc
Nhóm 1: Thay Đổi Nguyên Âm (Vowel Change)
📌 QUY TẮC:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Thay đổi nguyên âm ở giữa từ │
│ Không thêm -s/-es │
│ Ví dụ: man → men, tooth → teeth │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Các cặp phổ biến:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Phiên âm | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| man | men | /men/ | “Many men work in the technology industry.” |
| woman | women | /ˈwɪmɪn/ | “The percentage of women in leadership positions has increased.” |
| foot | feet | /fiːt/ | “The statue stands twenty feet tall.” |
| tooth | teeth | /tiːθ/ | “Children should brush their teeth twice daily.” |
| goose | geese | /ɡiːs/ | “The park is home to hundreds of geese.” |
| mouse | mice | /maɪs/ | “The laboratory uses mice for medical research.” |
Thành phần câu với danh từ bất quy tắc:
- Subject: “Men and women have equal opportunities in modern society.”
- Danh từ số nhiều → Động từ số nhiều (have, not has)
- Object: “The dentist examined my teeth carefully.”
- Vị trí tân ngữ, theo sau động từ
- Possessive: “The children’s toys were scattered everywhere.”
- Thêm ‘s vào sau danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc
Ví dụ phân tích chi tiết:
Câu: “Women in developing countries face numerous challenges when accessing healthcare.”
Phân tích:
- Subject: Women (chủ ngữ số nhiều bất quy tắc – woman → women)
- Prepositional phrase: in developing countries (cụm giới từ bổ nghĩa)
- Main verb: face (động từ số nhiều)
- Object: numerous challenges (tân ngữ)
- Time clause: when accessing healthcare (mệnh đề thời gian)
Nhóm 2: Giữ Nguyên Hình Thức (Same Form)
📌 QUY TẮC:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Hình thức số ít = Hình thức số nhiều │
│ Phân biệt qua context và động từ │
│ Ví dụ: one sheep → two sheep │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Các danh từ phổ biến:
| Danh từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ số ít | Ví dụ số nhiều |
|---|---|---|---|
| sheep | cừu | “A sheep is grazing.” | “Ten sheep are grazing.” |
| deer | hươu, nai | “The deer was spotted.” | “Several deer were spotted.” |
| fish | cá | “This fish is fresh.” | “These fish are expensive.” |
| species | loài | “One species has adapted.” | “Many species have disappeared.” |
| series | chuỗi, loạt | “A series is planned.” | “Two series are available.” |
| means | phương tiện | “This means is effective.” | “All means are necessary.” |
Lưu ý đặc biệt:
- Fish có thể có dạng “fishes” khi nói về nhiều loài cá khác nhau: “The aquarium displays tropical fishes from around the world.”
- People vs. Peoples: “people” là số nhiều của “person”, nhưng “peoples” có nghĩa là “các dân tộc”: “Indigenous peoples have unique cultures.”
Ví dụ trong IELTS Speaking:
“In my hometown, farmers raise both sheep and cattle. Last year, one of the local farms had over 200 sheep, which was quite impressive. These sheep provide wool for the textile industry.”
→ Phân tích: Cả 3 lần đều dùng “sheep”, phân biệt số ít/nhiều qua số lượng và động từ.
Nhóm 3: Thêm -en
📌 QUY TẮC:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Số nhiều = Số ít + -en │
│ Thường là các từ có nguồn gốc Anh cổ │
│ Ví dụ: child → children, ox → oxen │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Các từ trong nhóm này:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| child | children | “Children today spend more time on electronic devices.” |
| ox | oxen | “Historically, oxen were used for farming.” |
| brother | brethren* | “The brethren gathered for the ceremony.” (dùng trong văn cảnh tôn giáo/cổ điển) |
*Lưu ý: “Brother” có 2 dạng số nhiều:
- Brothers: Dùng trong ngữ cảnh thông thường – “I have two brothers.”
- Brethren: Dùng trong ngữ cảnh tôn giáo hoặc trang trọng – “We are all brethren in faith.”
Ví dụ trong IELTS Writing Task 2:
“The development of modern technology has significantly impacted how children learn and interact with the world. Unlike previous generations, today’s children have access to vast amounts of information online. However, this raises concerns about whether children are developing critical thinking skills or simply consuming content passively.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng “children” nhiều lần trong một đoạn văn học thuật, thể hiện tính nhất quán và chính xác.
Nhóm 4: Đổi -f/-fe thành -ves
📌 QUY TẮC:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Danh từ kết thúc bằng -f hoặc -fe │
│ → Đổi thành -ves │
│ Ví dụ: knife → knives, life → lives │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Các từ phổ biến:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| knife | knives | “The restaurant provides sharp knives for steak.” |
| wife | wives | “Many wives now pursue their own careers.” |
| life | lives | “Technology has transformed people’s lives dramatically.” |
| leaf | leaves | “In autumn, leaves fall from the trees.” |
| shelf | shelves | “The library has installed new shelves for books.” |
| wolf | wolves | “Wolves live in packs in the wild.” |
| half | halves | “The project was completed in two halves.” |
| loaf | loaves | “The bakery produces hundreds of loaves daily.” |
| calf | calves | “The farm has several newborn calves.” |
| thief | thieves | “The police caught the thieves yesterday.” |
NGOẠI LỆ quan trọng (không đổi -f thành -ves):
- belief → beliefs
- chief → chiefs
- roof → roofs
- proof → proofs
- cliff → cliffs
Ví dụ Band 8.0:
“Environmental pollution poses serious threats to wildlife. In many regions, wolves and other predators are losing their natural habitats. The lives of these animals depend on conservation efforts, and it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations can witness these magnificent creatures in their natural environment.”
→ Phân tích: Kết hợp nhiều danh từ bất quy tắc (wolves, lives) trong một đoạn văn phức tạp về môi trường.
Nhóm 5: Nguồn Gốc Latin/Greek
📌 QUY TẮC:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Giữ nguyên quy tắc từ ngôn ngữ gốc │
│ -us → -i, -is → -es, -on → -a │
│ -um → -a, -a → -ae │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
A. Đuôi -us → -i:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| cactus | cacti | “Desert cacti can survive without water for months.” |
| focus | foci | “The research has multiple foci including education and health.” |
| radius | radii | “The circles have different radii.” |
| stimulus | stimuli | “Various stimuli affect human behavior.” |
| fungus | fungi | “These fungi are used in pharmaceutical production.” |
Lưu ý: Một số từ có thể dùng cả dạng -i và -uses (cactuses, focuses) trong tiếng Anh hiện đại.
B. Đuôi -is → -es:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| analysis | analyses | “The analyses reveal significant trends in consumer behavior.” |
| crisis | crises | “Financial crises have occurred periodically throughout history.” |
| thesis | theses | “Students must submit their doctoral theses by December.” |
| hypothesis | hypotheses | “Scientists test multiple hypotheses during research.” |
| basis | bases | “The theories are built on solid bases.” |
| diagnosis | diagnoses | “Early diagnoses improve treatment outcomes.” |
C. Đuôi -on → -a:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| phenomenon | phenomena | “Social media phenomena have changed communication patterns.” |
| criterion | criteria | “Universities use various criteria for student admission.” |
D. Đuôi -um → -a:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| datum | data | “The data show a clear upward trend.” |
| medium | media | “Mass media influence public opinion significantly.” |
| curriculum | curricula | “Schools have revised their curricula to include technology.” |
| bacterium | bacteria | “Harmful bacteria can cause serious illnesses.” |
Lưu ý về “data”: Mặc dù “data” là số nhiều của “datum”, trong tiếng Anh hiện đại, “data” thường được dùng như danh từ không đếm được với động từ số ít: “The data shows…” (Mỹ) hoặc “The data show…” (Anh – chính thống hơn cho IELTS).
E. Đuôi -a → -ae:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| formula | formulae/formulas | “Mathematical formulae are essential in engineering.” |
| antenna | antennae/antennas | “Insects use their antennae to sense the environment.” |
| vertebra | vertebrae | “The human spine consists of 33 vertebrae.” |
Ví dụ Academic Writing Band 9:
“Recent analyses of economic data suggest that financial crises are not random phenomena but follow predictable patterns. Researchers have developed multiple hypotheses to explain these cycles, each based on different theoretical bases. The criteria used to evaluate these theories include predictive accuracy and empirical evidence.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng 7 danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc gốc Latin/Greek trong một đoạn văn học thuật, thể hiện vốn từ vựng phong phú và chính xác.
Danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc có nguồn gốc từ Latin và Greek thường xuất hiện trong IELTS Academic Writing
Nhóm 6: Danh Từ Ghép (Compound Nouns)
📌 QUY TẮC:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Thêm -s vào phần TỪ CHÍNH (main word) │
│ Từ chính thường là danh từ đầu tiên │
│ Ví dụ: mother-in-law → mothers-in-law │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Các trường hợp phổ biến:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| mother-in-law | mothers-in-law | “Both my mothers-in-law are retired teachers.” |
| father-in-law | fathers-in-law | “The fathers-in-law discussed business together.” |
| passer-by | passers-by | “Several passers-by witnessed the accident.” |
| editor-in-chief | editors-in-chief | “The magazine has had three editors-in-chief since 2010.” |
| attorney general | attorneys general | “State attorneys general filed the lawsuit.” |
| court martial | courts martial | “Military courts martial handle serious offenses.” |
NGOẠI LỆ – Thêm -s vào cuối:
- grown-ups (người lớn)
- check-ups (khám sức khỏe)
- sit-ins (cuộc ngồi biểu tình)
Ví dụ trong Speaking Part 2:
“I’d like to talk about a family gathering where all my relatives came together. Interestingly, my mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law from both sides of the family met for the first time. Several passers-by stopped to admire the decorations we had put up outside.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng danh từ ghép bất quy tắc để mô tả sự kiện gia đình một cách tự nhiên.
Nhóm 7: Hoàn Toàn Khác Biệt (Completely Different)
📌 ĐẶC ĐIỂM:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Không có quy tắc cụ thể │
│ Hình thức số nhiều hoàn toàn khác số ít │
│ Phải học thuộc lòng │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| person | people | “Young people face increasing pressure in modern society.” |
| child | children | “Children need quality education to succeed.” |
| man | men | “Men and women should have equal opportunities.” |
| woman | women | “Women have made significant progress in leadership roles.” |
| tooth | teeth | “Regular dental care keeps teeth healthy.” |
| foot | feet | “The building stands fifty feet tall.” |
| mouse | mice | “Laboratory mice are used in medical research.” |
| louse | lice | “Head lice can spread quickly in schools.” |
| goose | geese | “Wild geese migrate south in winter.” |
| ox | oxen | “Oxen were traditionally used for plowing fields.” |
Ví dụ tích hợp nhiều dạng bất quy tắc:
“People from different cultures have diverse beliefs about raising children. While some societies emphasize independence, others prioritize collective values. Research involving thousands of men and women across various countries reveals that parenting styles significantly influence how children develop social skills and emotional intelligence.”
→ Phân tích: Kết hợp 4 danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc khác nhau (people, children, men, women) trong một đoạn văn mạch lạc về văn hóa.
Nhóm 8: Danh Từ Không Đếm Được/Luôn Số Nhiều
A. Danh từ luôn ở dạng số nhiều (Plural-only nouns):
| Danh từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| scissors | cái kéo | “Please bring scissors to cut the paper.” (are, not is) |
| trousers | quần dài | “These trousers are too tight.” |
| glasses | kính mắt | “My glasses are on the table.” |
| jeans | quần jean | “Blue jeans remain popular worldwide.” |
| shorts | quần đùi | “Athletic shorts are comfortable for sports.” |
| scales | cái cân | “Bathroom scales measure body weight.” |
| tweezers | cái nhíp | “Tweezers are useful for removing splinters.” |
| pliers | cái kìm | “The electrician used pliers to cut the wire.” |
| binoculars | ống nhòm | “Binoculars help birdwatchers see distant birds.” |
| headphones | tai nghe | “Wireless headphones are increasingly popular.” |
Cách diễn đạt số lượng:
- ❌ “a scissor”, “two scissors”
- ✅ “a pair of scissors”, “two pairs of scissors”
- ✅ “some scissors” (không xác định số lượng)
B. Danh từ tập hợp (Collective nouns) – Dùng được cả số ít và số nhiều:
| Danh từ | Động từ số ít | Động từ số nhiều |
|---|---|---|
| team | “The team is winning.” (như một đơn vị) | “The team are arguing.” (các thành viên riêng lẻ) |
| family | “My family is large.” | “My family are traveling separately.” |
| staff | “The staff is efficient.” | “The staff are having a meeting.” |
| police | ❌ (luôn dùng số nhiều) | “The police are investigating.” |
| government | “The government has decided.” | “The government have different opinions.” |
| audience | “The audience was silent.” | “The audience were clapping.” |
| committee | “The committee meets monthly.” | “The committee are divided on this issue.” |
Lưu ý: Tiếng Anh Mỹ thường dùng động từ số ít, tiếng Anh Anh cho phép cả hai. IELTS chấp nhận cả hai cách, nhưng phải nhất quán trong bài viết.
Ví dụ IELTS Writing Task 2:
“The police are implementing new strategies to reduce crime. However, critics argue that the police force is understaffed and requires more resources. Meanwhile, local communities are organizing neighborhood watch programs, demonstrating that collective action is effective in maintaining safety.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng linh hoạt động từ số ít/nhiều với danh từ tập hợp, thể hiện sự tinh tế trong ngữ pháp.
Cách Vận Dụng Vào IELTS
Speaking
Part 1 – Introduction & Interview
Topic thường gặp: Family, Hometown, Work/Study, Daily Routine
Ví dụ câu hỏi & trả lời:
Q: “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
A: “Yes, I have two younger brothers and one sister. My brothers are both studying at university, while my sister is still in high school. We’re quite close, and I often give them advice about their studies.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng “brothers” (số nhiều quy tắc) nhưng cần phân biệt với “brethren” (bất quy tắc, dùng trong ngữ cảnh tôn giáo). Câu trả lời tự nhiên, mở rộng ý với nhiều chi tiết.
Q: “How do people in your country usually spend their weekends?”
A: “Well, people in my country enjoy various leisure activities on weekends. Many people prefer to spend time with their families, while others like to meet friends. Young people often go to shopping malls or cafes, and older people might visit parks or temples.”
→ Phân tích: Lặp lại “people” (số nhiều bất quy tắc của “person”) nhiều lần một cách tự nhiên. Tránh dùng “persons” vì nghe không tự nhiên trong ngữ cảnh này.
Q: “Are there any wild animals in your area?”
A: “Not many, actually. Occasionally, we see some deer in the nearby forest, and there are quite a few geese near the lake in the park. When I was a child, there were more sheep grazing in the fields, but nowadays the area has become more urbanized.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng đúng các danh từ giữ nguyên hình thức (deer, geese – dạng bất quy tắc của goose, sheep).
Part 2 – Long Turn
Cue card example:
Describe a memorable experience from your childhood.
Sample answer Band 8.0:
“I’d like to talk about a summer holiday I spent at my grandparents’ farm when I was about eight years old. It was a truly unforgettable experience that taught me many valuable lessons.
My grandparents raised various animals, including dozens of sheep, several cattle, and even a few geese. As a city child, I had never seen so many animals up close before. What fascinated me most were the newborn calves – they were so gentle and curious.
One of my main responsibilities was to help feed the animals. I remember using knives to cut vegetables for the sheep and carrying water in buckets to different areas of the farm. The work wasn’t easy, especially for a child, but I felt proud to be helping.
The most memorable moment was when my grandfather taught me how to shear the sheep. He explained that sheep need to be sheared regularly, especially in summer, to keep them comfortable. I watched as he skillfully handled the large scissors – well, actually they’re called shears – and carefully removed the wool. The sheep seemed relieved afterward, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
What made this experience truly special was interacting with other children from neighboring farms. Unlike the children I knew in the city, these children were incredibly knowledgeable about nature and farming. We would spend hours exploring the fields, climbing trees, and learning about different species of plants and insects.
This experience taught me to appreciate where our food comes from and the hard work that farmers – both men and women – put into their work. It also made me realize that people who live in rural areas have a deep connection with nature that many city people have lost. Even today, whenever I see sheep or visit a farm, I’m reminded of that wonderful summer and the valuable lessons I learned about life, responsibility, and nature.”
Phân tích Band 8.0:
- Irregular plurals used: sheep (x4), cattle, geese, calves, knives, scissors, children (x4), men, women, people (x3), species, lessons
- Vocabulary range: Diverse và natural collocations (shear the sheep, newborn calves, city people vs. rural people)
- Grammatical accuracy: Không có lỗi ngữ pháp, sử dụng đúng tất cả danh từ bất quy tắc
- Coherence: Cấu trúc rõ ràng với introduction, main events, và conclusion reflecting on the experience
- Fluency indicators: Liên từ tự nhiên (What fascinated me most, One of…, What made this special)
Part 3 – Discussion
Topic: Changes in Society
Q: “How has technology changed the way people communicate?”
A (Band 8.5): “Technology has revolutionized communication in profound ways. Twenty years ago, people relied primarily on landline phones and face-to-face conversations. Now, people of all ages use smartphones and social media to stay connected.
However, this shift has created several phenomena worth discussing. First, while technology enables people to communicate across vast distances, many men and women report feeling more isolated despite being constantly connected. Second, young children are developing different communication skills compared to previous generations – they’re proficient with digital media but may struggle with in-person interactions.
Interestingly, the data from recent surveys show that older people have adapted remarkably well to new technology. My own parents, who are in their sixties, now regularly video call their grandchildren. This demonstrates that people’s ability to adapt shouldn’t be underestimated, regardless of age.”
→ Phân tích Band 8.5 features:
- Complex ideas: Discusses both benefits và drawbacks
- Irregular plurals: people (x6), phenomena, men, women, children, media, data
- Academic language: “revolutionized,” “profound ways,” “phenomena worth discussing”
- Data + show (British style): Sử dụng “data” với động từ số nhiều (academic chính thống)
- Personal examples: Makes abstract ideas concrete với family example
Q: “What are the main challenges facing young people today?”
A (Band 9.0): “Contemporary youth face multiple crises that previous generations didn’t encounter to the same degree.
Economically, young people struggle with housing affordability and student debt. The data collected from millennials and Gen Z indicate that they’re accumulating wealth at a much slower rate than their parents did at the same age. Many young men and women are postponing major life decisions like marriage and having children because of financial insecurity.
Psychologically, there’s an unprecedented mental health crisis. Analyses of recent studies reveal that anxiety and depression rates among children and teenagers have skyrocketed. Social media platforms, while offering connection, also create immense pressure. Young people constantly compare their lives to curated online personas, which can be damaging to self-esteem.
Furthermore, environmental crises – such as climate change – weigh heavily on young people’s minds. They’re inheriting a planet facing serious ecological challenges, and many feel their voices aren’t being heard by policymakers.
That said, I’m optimistic about this generation. Young people today are more globally aware, socially conscious, and technologically capable than ever before. They have the potential to develop innovative solutions to these complex phenomena, provided they receive adequate support from society.”
→ Phân tích Band 9.0 features:
- Sophisticated irregular plurals: crises (x2), data, analyses, media, phenomena, voices, lives, people’s
- Complex sentence structures: Multiple subordinate clauses, varied sentence beginnings
- Academic vocabulary: “unprecedented,” “curated personas,” “ecological challenges”
- Balanced argument: Problems → Solutions
- Cohesive devices: “Furthermore,” “That said,” “provided that”
- Grammar variety: Present perfect, present simple, passive voice
- Natural flow: Ideas connect logically từ economic → psychological → environmental → optimistic conclusion
Cách sử dụng danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc hiệu quả trong IELTS Speaking các Part 1, 2, 3 với ví dụ câu trả lời Band cao
Writing Task 1
Line Graph/Bar Chart – Describing Trends
Khi nào dùng danh từ bất quy tắc:
- Mô tả số liệu về dân số (people, men, women, children)
- Biểu đồ khoa học (mice, bacteria, species)
- So sánh nhiều nhóm đối tượng khác nhau
Ví dụ Task 1 – Line Graph:
Task: The graph below shows the number of men, women and children participating in evening classes at an education center between 2005 and 2020.
Sample Introduction & Overview (Band 8.0):
“The line graph illustrates how many men, women, and children attended evening courses at a local education center over a fifteen-year period from 2005 to 2020.
Overall, the number of women participating in evening classes increased dramatically throughout the period, while the figures for men and children showed more moderate growth. By 2020, women constituted the largest group of participants.”
Sample Body Paragraph 1:
“In 2005, approximately 20 men attended evening classes, compared to just 10 women and 5 children. However, the number of women rose rapidly over the next five years, reaching 40 by 2010, while the figures for men increased more gradually to 25. The number of children participating in evening education remained relatively stable during this period, fluctuating between 5 and 8.”
→ Phân tích:
- Sử dụng men, women, children (tất cả là irregular plurals) một cách nhất quán
- Tránh lỗi: ❌ “20 man”, “10 woman”, “5 child”
- Động từ phù hợp với danh từ số nhiều: “rose,” “increased,” “remained”
Ví dụ Task 1 – Table:
Task: The table below shows the number of different species of animals at a wildlife reserve in 2010 and 2020.
Sample Body Paragraph (Band 8.5):
“The data in the table reveal significant changes in wildlife populations over the decade. The number of deer remained constant at 150, demonstrating the stability of this species. However, sheep populations declined from 200 to 180, possibly due to habitat changes.
Interestingly, the reserve introduced several new species during this period. The number of geese increased from 50 to 75, while fish populations in the reserve’s ponds grew from 500 to 650. These figures suggest that conservation efforts have been largely successful in maintaining biodiversity.”
→ Phân tích Band 8.5 features:
- Irregular plurals: data (với động từ số nhiều “reveal”), deer, species (số nhiều giống số ít), sheep, geese, fish
- Academic language: “reveal significant changes,” “demonstrate stability,” “conservation efforts”
- Interpretation: Không chỉ mô tả mà còn interpret trends (“possibly due to,” “suggest that”)
Writing Task 2
Opinion Essay
Topic: Some people believe that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Introduction (Band 8.0):
“The optimal age for children to begin studying foreign languages remains a contentious issue. While some argue that children should wait until secondary school, I firmly believe that introducing foreign languages at primary level offers significant advantages that outweigh any potential drawbacks.”
Sample Body Paragraph 1 (Band 8.5):
“Children at primary school age possess cognitive advantages that make language acquisition more natural and effective. Recent analyses of linguistic research demonstrate that young children’s brains are more adaptable and can absorb new languages with remarkable ease. Unlike adults, children are less self-conscious about making mistakes, which means they develop speaking skills more fluently. Furthermore, starting early allows children to master pronunciation more accurately, as their vocal mechanisms are still developing. These phenomena explain why many polyglots began learning multiple languages during childhood.”
→ Phân tích:
- Irregular plurals used: children (x4), children’s, analyses, phenomena
- Topic sentences: Clear main idea
- Supporting evidence: “Recent analyses demonstrate…”
- Cause-effect: “These phenomena explain why…”
Sample Body Paragraph 2 (Band 9.0):
“Moreover, early language education provides children with valuable cognitive and cultural benefits beyond mere communication skills. Data from longitudinal studies show that bilingual children demonstrate enhanced problem-solving abilities and greater mental flexibility compared to monolingual peers. These children develop a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity, learning that people around the world have different perspectives and lives. This cultural awareness becomes increasingly crucial in our globalized society, where men and women routinely interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds. By introducing foreign languages early, schools equip children with tools to become global citizens who can navigate multiple cultural contexts with confidence.”
→ Phân tích Band 9.0 features:
- Sophisticated irregular plurals: children (x5), data, people, lives, men, women
- Academic collocations: “longitudinal studies,” “mental flexibility,” “cultural awareness,” “global citizens”
- Complex sentences: Multiple clauses với smooth connections
- Evidence-based: “Data from studies show…”
- Extended reasoning: Connects language learning → cognitive benefits → cultural awareness → global citizenship
Problem-Solution Essay
Topic: Many species of wild animals are facing extinction. What are the main causes of this problem, and what solutions can you suggest?
Sample Body Paragraph – Problems (Band 8.5):
“The current extinction crisis affecting wildlife stems from multiple interconnected causes. Firstly, habitat destruction has left countless species without adequate living space. As human populations expand, people clear forests and grasslands for agriculture and urban development. This directly impacts animals such as deer, wolves, and geese, which require large territories for survival.
Secondly, climate change has created new phenomena that disrupt ecosystems. The data collected by environmental scientists indicate that changing temperatures affect migration patterns, breeding cycles, and food availability. For instance, fish populations in warming oceans are shifting toward polar regions, leaving species that depend on them without food sources. Meanwhile, mice and other small mammals face challenges as their habitats experience extreme weather events.”
→ Phân tích:
- Irregular plurals: crisis, causes, species (x3), people, deer, wolves, geese, phenomena, data, fish, mice
- Problem structure: First problem → Example → Second problem → Example
- Scientific language: Appropriate for environmental topic
Sample Body Paragraph – Solutions (Band 9.0):
“Addressing these crises requires coordinated action from governments, organizations, and individuals. Governments must establish protected areas where species can thrive without human interference. For example, wildlife reserves have successfully maintained populations of sheep, deer, and other grazing animals that were previously threatened. These bases for conservation also serve as research centers where scientists can study phenomena related to animal behavior and ecology.
Additionally, public education plays a crucial role in changing people’s attitudes toward wildlife. Children who learn about endangered species often become passionate advocates for conservation. Schools should integrate environmental education into their curricula, teaching children about the interconnectedness of ecosystems and humanity’s responsibility toward other species. When young people understand that their actions affect wildlife, they’re more likely to make sustainable choices as adults.
Finally, technological solutions offer promising possibilities. Analyses of satellite data help researchers track animal movements and identify critical habitats. Drones can monitor species in remote areas where human access is difficult. These technological means enable conservationists to respond quickly to threats and protect vulnerable populations.”
→ Phân tích Band 9.0 features:
- Diverse irregular plurals: crises, species (x6), sheep, deer, bases, phenomena, people’s, children (x3), curricula, analyses, data, means
- Solution structure: Multiple solutions với examples và explanations
- Cohesive devices: “Additionally,” “Finally,” linking ideas smoothly
- Range of vocabulary: “coordinated action,” “without human interference,” “passionate advocates,” “interconnectedness”
- Sophisticated grammar: Passive voice, relative clauses, conditional structures
Discussion Essay
Topic: Some people believe that universities should focus on practical skills, while others think they should emphasize theoretical knowledge. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Sample Paragraph (Band 8.5):
“Those who advocate practical education argue that people attend university primarily to improve career prospects. They point out that employers value men and women who can immediately contribute to their organizations. According to this perspective, universities should teach skills directly applicable to workplaces, ensuring that their curricula include internships, projects, and hands-on training. The data from graduate employment surveys support this view, showing that people with practical experience secure jobs more quickly. Furthermore, in fields such as medicine, where doctors must diagnose various crises and treat diseases, practical skills are undeniably essential.”
→ Phân tích:
- Irregular plurals: people (x3), men, women, curricula, data, crises
- Discussion structure: Presents one viewpoint với reasoning và evidence
- Balanced tone: “Those who advocate…” (neutral academic voice)
Ví dụ sử dụng danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc trong IELTS Writing Task 2 các dạng bài Opinion, Problem-Solution, Discussion với highlight từ vựng Band 8-9
Nâng Cao – Cách Dùng Để Đạt Band 8+
Kết Hợp Với Các Cấu Trúc Khác
Irregular Plurals + Relative Clauses
Cấu trúc:
Irregular plural noun + who/which/that + verb (plural) + complement
Ví dụ Band 8+:
“The children who participated in the study showed remarkable improvement.”
→ Phân tích: “children” (irregular) + “who” + “showed” (verb số nhiều)
“People who live in rural areas often have stronger community bonds.”
→ Band 8+ feature: Generalization using irregular plural + relative clause
“Environmental crises that affect developing nations require international cooperation.”
→ Academic style: Latin-origin irregular plural + defining relative clause
“The research data that were collected over five years reveal significant patterns.”
→ Band 9 feature: “data” (plural) + “that were” (British academic style) + “reveal” (plural verb)
Sample Complex Sentence (Band 9.0):
“The phenomena that scientists have observed in recent decades, including rising temperatures and melting ice caps, suggest that climate change is accelerating at a rate that previous analyses had not predicted.”
→ Phân tích:
- 2 irregular plurals (phenomena, analyses)
- Multiple relative clauses
- Present perfect and past perfect tenses
- Academic vocabulary
Irregular Plurals + Passive Voice
Cấu trúc:
Irregular plural noun + be (plural) + past participle
Ví dụ Band 8+:
“Many species are threatened by habitat destruction.”
→ Standard academic passive với irregular plural
“These children were taught using innovative methods.”
→ Past passive với irregular plural subject
“The laboratory mice were carefully monitored throughout the experiment.”
→ Scientific writing style
“Multiple hypotheses were tested to determine the cause.”
→ Band 9: Latin-origin plural + passive voice
Sample Paragraph (Band 9.0):
“Recent analyses were conducted to examine the impact of social media on young people’s mental health. The data were gathered from over 10,000 participants, and various criteria were established to ensure research validity. Interestingly, significant differences were observed between men and women in their social media usage patterns. These phenomena were further investigated through qualitative interviews, and the findings were subsequently published in leading academic journals.”
→ Phân tích Band 9 features:
- Multiple irregular plurals: analyses, media, data, criteria, men, women, phenomena
- Consistent passive voice throughout
- Academic reporting style
- Varied sentence structures
Irregular Plurals + Modal Verbs
Cấu trúc:
Irregular plural + modal verb + base verb
Ví dụ Band 8+:
“Children should be encouraged to explore their creativity.”
→ Modal của advice với irregular plural
“These data may indicate a significant trend.”
→ Modal của possibility (academic)
“People must take responsibility for environmental protection.”
→ Modal của obligation
“Such crises could have been avoided with better planning.”
→ Modal perfect (past speculation)
Sample Complex Sentence (Band 9.0):
“The recent financial crises might have been mitigated if policymakers had paid closer attention to the warning signs that economic analyses had been revealing for years, and if ordinary people had been better educated about managing their personal finances.”
→ Phân tích:
- 3 irregular plurals: crises, analyses, people
- Modal perfect: “might have been mitigated”
- Past perfect: “had been revealing”
- Conditional structure (Type 3)
- Complex reasoning
Cụm Từ Nâng Cao (Advanced Collocations)
Academic Collocations với Irregular Plurals
| Collocation | Ví dụ | Band Level | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| in-depth analyses | “The report provides in-depth analyses of economic trends.” | 8+ | Academic Writing |
| conflicting data | “The conflicting data make it difficult to draw conclusions.” | 8+ | Task 1, Research |
| diverse phenomena | “Sociologists study diverse phenomena within communities.” | 8+ | Task 2 Discussion |
| vulnerable species | “Conservation efforts focus on vulnerable species.” | 7+ | Environment topics |
| selection criteria | “Universities apply strict selection criteria for admission.” | 8+ | Education topics |
| contemporary media | “Contemporary media shape public opinion significantly.” | 8+ | Technology/Society |
| underlying crises | “The underlying crises have been ignored for decades.” | 9 | Problem-Solution |
| marginalized people | “Policies should protect marginalized people in society.” | 8+ | Social issues |
| empirical data | “The theory is supported by empirical data.” | 9 | Academic Writing |
| established criteria | “Evaluation follows established criteria in the field.” | 8+ | Formal Writing |
| endangered species | “Many endangered species face extinction risks.” | 7+ | Environment |
| preliminary analyses | “Preliminary analyses suggest a positive correlation.” | 9 | Research/Academic |
| indigenous peoples | “Indigenous peoples preserve valuable traditional knowledge.” | 8+ | Culture topics |
| digital media | “Digital media have transformed communication.” | 7+ | Technology topics |
| young children | “Young children learn languages more easily.” | 7+ | Education/Development |
Natural Combinations cho Speaking Band 8+
People + Adjectives:
- “ordinary people” – người bình thường
- “elderly people” – người cao tuổi
- “young people” – thanh niên
- “business people” – doanh nhân
- “local people” – người dân địa phương
Example: “Local people often have valuable insights into environmental changes that scientific data might miss.”
Children + Verbs:
- “children develop” – trẻ em phát triển
- “children acquire” – trẻ em tiếp thu
- “children benefit from” – trẻ em được lợi từ
- “children struggle with” – trẻ em gặp khó khăn với
Example: “Research shows that children who are exposed to multiple languages early in life acquire better cognitive skills.”
Data + Verbs (Academic):
- “data indicate/suggest” (British – plural verb)
- “data shows” (American – singular verb)
- “data reveal patterns”
- “data support the hypothesis”
Example: “The data collected from 50 countries suggest that income inequality has been increasing since the 1980s.”
Câu Phức & Ghép Với Irregular Plurals
Tích hợp vào Complex Sentences
Pattern 1: Although/While + Irregular Plural
“Although many species are threatened by climate change, conservation efforts have successfully protected some populations.”
→ Band 8: Concessive clause + irregular plural + present perfect
“While previous analyses focused on economic factors, recent research emphasizes social and psychological dimensions.”
→ Band 8+: Contrasting ideas với 2 irregular plurals (analyses – Latin origin)
Pattern 2: Irregular Plural + Relative Clause + Main Verb
“The phenomena that researchers observed in developing countries, including rapid urbanization and changing family structures, have transformed traditional societies.”
→ Band 9: Complex noun phrase với irregular plural + relative clause + present perfect
“Children who grow up in bilingual environments, despite facing initial challenges, often develop superior cognitive abilities.”
→ Band 8+: Irregular plural + relative clause + concessive phrase
Pattern 3: Not only… but also
“Modern technology has affected not only how people communicate but also how they form relationships and perceive reality.”
→ Band 8: Parallel structure với irregular plural
“Climate change threatens not only rare species but also entire ecosystems and human livelihoods.”
→ Band 8+: Parallel structure với multiple irregular plurals
Sample Band 9.0 Complex Paragraph:
“The financial crises that have occurred periodically throughout history demonstrate that while economic phenomena may appear cyclical, each crisis presents unique characteristics shaped by contemporary circumstances. Analyses of these events reveal that people’s behavior during economic downturns follows predictable patterns: panic selling, reduced consumption, and increased savings. However, what distinguishes modern crises from historical ones is the speed at which information spreads through digital media, potentially amplifying both positive and negative market sentiments. Consequently, policymakers must develop sophisticated strategies that account not only for traditional economic indicators but also for psychological factors affecting how people interpret and respond to financial news. The data gathered from recent crises suggest that early intervention, transparent communication, and coordinated international action can significantly mitigate the severity of economic downturns, protecting vulnerable populations and preventing the cascading effects that might otherwise destabilize entire regions.”
Phân tích Band 9.0 features:
- Irregular plurals: crises (x4), phenomena, analyses, people’s, media, strategies, indicators, people, data, news, effects
- Sentence variety: Simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
- Academic vocabulary: periodically, cyclical, contemporary circumstances, amplifying sentiments, sophisticated strategies
- Cohesive devices: while, however, consequently, not only…but also
- Grammar range: Present perfect, modal verbs, passive voice, relative clauses, participle phrases
- Complex ideas: Connects historical patterns → modern differences → policy implications
- Evidence-based: “analyses reveal,” “data suggest”
So Sánh Với Cấu Trúc Tương Tự
Regular Plurals vs. Irregular Plurals
| Tiêu chí | Regular Plurals | Irregular Plurals |
|---|---|---|
| Công thức | Noun + s/es/ies | Thay đổi nguyên âm, thêm -en, đổi đuôi, hoặc giữ nguyên |
| Ví dụ | book → books, box → boxes, city → cities | man → men, child → children, sheep → sheep |
| Dự đoán được | ✅ Có quy tắc rõ ràng | ❌ Phải học thuộc từng từ |
| Tần suất | Rất cao (~95% danh từ) | Thấp hơn (~5% danh từ) |
| Nguồn gốc | Theo quy tắc tiếng Anh hiện đại | Từ tiếng Anh cổ, Latin, Greek |
| IELTS importance | Cần thiết cho Band 6+ | Phân biệt Band 7+ và Band 8+ |
| Lỗi thường gặp | Ít (vì có quy tắc) | Nhiều (childs, womans, datas) |
Khi nào dùng cấu trúc nào:
✅ Regular Plurals:
- Hầu hết các danh từ thông thường: books, tables, computers, houses, ideas
- Danh từ mượn từ tiếng Anh hiện đại: smartphones, websites, podcasts
- An toàn khi không chắc chắn (nhưng check dictionary!)
✅ Irregular Plurals:
- Danh từ về con người: man/men, woman/women, child/children, person/people
- Động vật: mouse/mice, goose/geese, sheep/sheep, deer/deer, fish/fish
- Bộ phận cơ thể: tooth/teeth, foot/feet
- Danh từ học thuật (Latin/Greek): crisis/crises, analysis/analyses, phenomenon/phenomena, datum/data
- Một số danh từ phổ biến khác: knife/knives, life/lives, wife/wives
Example comparing both:
“Modern universities (regular) face multiple crises (irregular) in funding and enrollment. While students (regular) and professors (regular) adapt to online learning, children (irregular) in primary education struggle with remote instruction. The data (irregular) from recent studies (regular) reveal that people (irregular) from different backgrounds (regular) experience these challenges (regular) differently.”
→ Phân tích: Kết hợp tự nhiên cả regular và irregular plurals trong một đoạn văn academic.
Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns (Có liên quan đến Irregular Plurals)
| Tiêu chí | Countable (Irregular Plurals) | Uncountable |
|---|---|---|
| Định nghĩa | Đếm được, có số nhiều bất quy tắc | Không đếm được, không có số nhiều |
| Ví dụ | one child → two children, one person → three people | information, advice, research, equipment |
| Article | a/an (số ít), the (cả hai) | the (không dùng a/an) |
| Quantifiers | many, few, a few, several | much, little, a little, a great deal of |
| Verb | Số ít: singular verb / Số nhiều: plural verb | Always singular verb |
Trường hợp đặc biệt – Data:
British English (IELTS standard):
“The data are conclusive.” (plural – chính thống hơn cho academic writing)
American English:
“The data is conclusive.” (singular – được chấp nhận nhưng ít formal hơn)
IELTS advice: Dùng “data are/show/indicate” (British style) an toàn hơn cho Writing Task 1 và Task 2 academic topics.
Irregular Plurals nhầm với Uncountable:
❌ SAI: “I need some informations about the course.”
✅ ĐÚNG: “I need some information about the course.”
→ “Information” là uncountable, không có số nhiều
❌ SAI: “The teacher gave us many useful advices.”
✅ ĐÚNG: “The teacher gave us much useful advice.” / “…many useful pieces of advice.”
→ “Advice” là uncountable
✅ ĐÚNG (Irregular Plural): “Many people asked for information.”
→ “People” là countable (số nhiều của person)
❌ SAI: “These datas are important.”
✅ ĐÚNG: “These data are important.” / “This data is important.”
→ “Data” đã là số nhiều (datum → data), không thêm “s”
Collective Nouns vs. Irregular Plurals
| Tiêu chí | Collective Nouns | Irregular Plurals |
|---|---|---|
| Định nghĩa | Danh từ chỉ một nhóm người/vật | Danh từ số nhiều không theo quy tắc |
| Ví dụ | team, family, government, police, staff | children, people, men, women, teeth |
| Verb agreement | Có thể dùng singular HOẶC plural verb | Luôn dùng plural verb (trừ sheep/deer/fish phụ thuộc context) |
| Singular form | Có hình thức số ít riêng | Có hình thức số ít bất quy tắc (child, person, man, tooth) |
So sánh cách dùng:
Collective Noun:
- “The team is playing well.” (như một đơn vị)
- “The team are arguing about strategy.” (các thành viên riêng lẻ)
Irregular Plural:
- “The children are playing.” (luôn dùng plural verb)
- ❌ “The children is playing.” (SAI)
Trường hợp đặc biệt – Police:
“The police” luôn được coi là số nhiều:
✅ “The police are investigating the crime.”
✅ “Police officers work hard.” (nếu muốn dùng số ít: “a police officer”)
“People” vs. “Family”:
People (Irregular Plural):
- “Many people are concerned.” (luôn plural)
- “A person is waiting.” (số ít)
Family (Collective Noun):
- “My family is large.” (British/American – as a unit)
- “My family are traveling separately.” (British – as individuals)
- “The families in our neighborhood are diverse.” (số nhiều của collective noun)
Sample Sentence Mixing Both (Band 8+):
“The government team responsible for education reform has proposed new policies that will affect how children learn in schools. While the team is unified in its goals, individual members have different opinions about implementation. The data they collected from parents and teachers suggest that most people support the changes, although some families are concerned about increased workload for children.”
→ Phân tích:
- Collective: “team” (is – singular), “families” (are – plural members)
- Irregular plurals: “children” (are), “data” (suggest – plural British), “people” (support), “teachers”
- Mixing appropriately based on context
Lỗi Thường Gặp & Cách Sửa
Lỗi 1: Thêm -s vào Irregular Plurals
❌ SAI:
“Many childs enjoy playing video games.”
“The womans in the study were aged 25-40.”
“Laboratory mouses were used in the experiment.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“Many children enjoy playing video games.”
“The women in the study were aged 25-40.”
“Laboratory mice were used in the experiment.”
Giải thích:
Đây là lỗi phổ biến nhất của học viên Việt Nam. Các danh từ bất quy tắc đã có hình thức số nhiều riêng, không cần thêm “-s”. Việc thêm “-s” vào những từ này (childs, womans, mouses) là sai hoàn toàn và ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng đến điểm Grammatical Accuracy.
Lưu ý:
- child → children (KHÔNG phải childs)
- woman → women (KHÔNG phải womans)
- man → men (KHÔNG phải mans)
- mouse → mice (KHÔNG phải mouses)
- tooth → teeth (KHÔNG phải tooths)
- foot → feet (KHÔNG phải foots)
Cách tránh:
Học thuộc lòng nhóm các danh từ bất quy tắc phổ biến và luyện tập viết câu với chúng hàng ngày.
Lỗi 2: Thêm -s vào Danh Từ Latin/Greek
❌ SAI:
“The research produced multiple datas.”
“Several crisises have affected the economy.”
“The scientists tested different hypothesises.”
“These phenomenons require further study.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“The research produced multiple data sets.” / “…a large amount of data.”
“Several crises have affected the economy.”
“The scientists tested different hypotheses.”
“These phenomena require further study.”
Giải thích:
Các danh từ có nguồn gốc Latin/Greek đã có hình thức số nhiều đặc biệt từ ngôn ngữ gốc. Việc thêm “-s” vào những từ này là sai vì đang áp dụng quy tắc tiếng Anh vào từ không theo quy tắc này.
Các cặp cần nhớ:
- crisis → crises (KHÔNG phải crisises)
- analysis → analyses (KHÔNG phải analysises)
- hypothesis → hypotheses (KHÔNG phải hypothesises)
- thesis → theses (KHÔNG phải thesises)
- phenomenon → phenomena (KHÔNG phải phenomenons)
- criterion → criteria (KHÔNG phải criterions)
- datum → data (KHÔNG phải datas)
- bacterium → bacteria (KHÔNG phải bacterias)
Đặc biệt về “data”:
❌ “multiple datas”
✅ “multiple data sets” / “pieces of data” / “a large amount of data”
→ “Data” đã là số nhiều, không thêm “-s”
Cách tránh:
Khi gặp danh từ kết thúc bằng -is, -on, -um, -us trong academic context, check dictionary để xác nhận hình thức số nhiều.
Lỗi 3: Sử Dụng Sai Động Từ Với Irregular Plurals
❌ SAI:
“The children was playing in the park.”
“Many people thinks technology is important.”
“The data shows an interesting pattern.” (Chấp nhận được trong American English nhưng kém formal cho IELTS)
“Ten sheep is grazing in the field.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“The children were playing in the park.”
“Many people think technology is important.”
“The data show an interesting pattern.” (British English – tốt hơn cho IELTS Academic)
“Ten sheep are grazing in the field.”
Giải thích:
Irregular plural nouns là danh từ số nhiều, do đó phải đi với động từ số nhiều. Lỗi này thường xảy ra vì:
- Học viên nhìn vào hình thức của từ (children có vẻ kỳ lạ) và không nhận ra đây là số nhiều
- Với “sheep/deer/fish” (giữ nguyên hình thức), học viên không dựa vào context để xác định số ít/nhiều
- Bị ảnh hưởng bởi tiếng Việt không có biến đổi động từ
Quy tắc:
- children → are/were/have (NOT is/was/has)
- people → are/were/have
- men/women → are/were/have
- teeth/feet → are/were/have
- mice → are/were/have
Trường hợp đặc biệt – Same form nouns:
- “A sheep is…” (một con cừu)
- “Five sheep are…” (năm con cừu)
- “This fish is…” (con cá này)
- “These fish are…” (những con cá này)
Về “data” trong IELTS:
- ✅ British (tốt hơn): “The data show/suggest/indicate…” (plural verb)
- ✅ American (chấp nhận được): “The data shows/suggests/indicates…” (singular verb)
- IELTS advice: Dùng British style (plural verb) trong Writing Task 1 và academic contexts
Cách tránh:
Luôn kiểm tra subject-verb agreement. Nếu danh từ là số nhiều (dù bất quy tắc), dùng động từ số nhiều.
Lỗi 4: Nhầm Lẫn Giữa Số Ít và Số Nhiều
❌ SAI:
“I met a children in the park.”
“This people is very kind.”
“A men came to the door.”
“The dentist removed one of my tooths.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“I met a child in the park.”
“This person is very kind.”
“A man came to the door.”
“The dentist removed one of my teeth.”
Giải thích:
Nhiều học viên không phân biệt rõ hình thức số ít và số nhiều của danh từ bất quy tắc, dẫn đến sử dụng sai với article (a/an) và determiners (this/that).
Các cặp cần phân biệt:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Lỗi thường gặp |
|---|---|---|
| a child | children | ❌ “a children” |
| a person | people | ❌ “a people” (có nghĩa khác: một dân tộc) |
| a man | men | ❌ “a men” |
| a woman | women | ❌ “a women” |
| a tooth | teeth | ❌ “a teeth” |
| a foot | feet | ❌ “a feet” |
| a mouse | mice | ❌ “a mice” |
| an analysis | analyses | ❌ “an analyses” |
| a crisis | crises | ❌ “a crises” |
Đặc biệt:
- “a sheep” (một con cừu) / “sheep” (nhiều con cừu) – giống nhau!
- “a deer” / “deer” – giống nhau!
- “a fish” / “fish” (cùng loài) / “fishes” (nhiều loài khác nhau)
Lỗi với “people”:
- ❌ “a people” (nghĩa sai – this means “một dân tộc”)
- ✅ “a person” (một người)
- ✅ “people” (nhiều người – không cần “a”)
- ✅ “the people” (những người cụ thể)
- ✅ “many/some/these people”
Cách tránh:
- Với “a/an” → dùng hình thức số ít: a child, a person, a man, a woman, a tooth
- Với “many/some/these/two/three…” → dùng hình thức số nhiều: many children, two people, these men
- Học thuộc cặp số ít/số nhiều của các danh từ bất quy tắc phổ biến
Lỗi 5: Nhầm Lẫn Với Danh Từ Không Đếm Được
❌ SAI:
“The teacher gave us many useful advices.”
“I need some informations about the course.”
“We received several equipments from the supplier.”
“They did many researches on this topic.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“The teacher gave us much useful advice.” / “…many useful pieces of advice.”
“I need some information about the course.”
“We received several pieces of equipment from the supplier.”
“They did extensive research / conducted many studies on this topic.”
Giải thích:
Học viên Việt Nam thường nhầm lẫn giữa irregular plural nouns (có số nhiều bất quy tắc) và uncountable nouns (không có số nhiều). Một số từ trong tiếng Việt có thể đếm được nhưng trong tiếng Anh là uncountable.
Danh từ Uncountable (KHÔNG có số nhiều):
- advice (lời khuyên)
- information (thông tin)
- equipment (thiết bị)
- furniture (đồ nội thất)
- luggage/baggage (hành lý)
- research (nghiên cứu – như một hoạt động chung)
- homework (bài tập về nhà)
- news (tin tức)
Cách diễn đạt số nhiều cho Uncountable nouns:
| Uncountable | Cách đếm | Ví dụ |
|————-|———-|——–|
| advice | pieces of advice | “She gave me three pieces of advice.” |
| information | pieces of information | “We need several pieces of information.” |
| equipment | pieces/items of equipment | “The lab has modern pieces of equipment.” |
| furniture | pieces/items of furniture | “We bought five pieces of furniture.” |
| luggage | pieces/items of luggage | “I have two pieces of luggage.” |
| research | research studies/projects | “They conducted five research studies.” |
| news | pieces/items of news | “There are several items of news today.” |
So sánh với Irregular Plurals (có số nhiều):
| Countable (Irregular) | Uncountable |
|---|---|
| a person → people | ❌ a people (nghĩa khác) |
| a child → children | ❌ childrens |
| an analysis → analyses | advice (no plural) |
| a datum → data | information (no plural) |
| a crisis → crises | equipment (no plural) |
Đặc biệt về “research”:
- ✅ “The research shows…” (uncountable – nghiên cứu nói chung)
- ✅ “Three research studies/projects” (countable – các dự án nghiên cứu cụ thể)
- ❌ “Three researches”
Cách tránh:
- Học thuộc các danh từ uncountable phổ biến
- Khi không chắc, check dictionary xem từ có nhãn [U] (uncountable) hay [C] (countable)
- Với uncountable nouns, dùng “much/a lot of/some” thay vì “many”
- Để đếm uncountable nouns, dùng “pieces of/items of/units of + noun”
Top 5 lỗi thường gặp khi sử dụng danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc mà học viên Việt Nam mắc phải trong IELTS với cách sửa chi tiết
Lỗi 6: Sử Dụng Sai Possessive Forms
❌ SAI:
“The childrens’ toys were everywhere.”
“We need to consider peoples’ opinions.”
“The womens’ restroom is on the second floor.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“The children’s toys were everywhere.”
“We need to consider people’s opinions.”
“The women’s restroom is on the second floor.”
Giải thích:
Với irregular plural nouns không kết thúc bằng “-s”, possessive form được tạo bằng cách thêm ‘s (giống như số ít), KHÔNG phải chỉ thêm apostrophe.
Quy tắc Possessive với Irregular Plurals:
| Irregular Plural | Possessive Form | Ví dụ |
|---|---|---|
| children | children’s | “The children’s education is important.” |
| people | people’s | “People’s opinions vary widely.” |
| men | men’s | “The men’s department is upstairs.” |
| women | women’s | “Women’s rights have improved.” |
| mice | mice’s | “The mice’s behavior changed.” |
| teeth | teeth’s | “Good teeth’s condition requires care.” (ít dùng, thường dùng “dental health”) |
So sánh với Regular Plurals:
| Regular Plural | Possessive | Irregular Plural | Possessive |
|---|---|---|---|
| students | students’ | children | children’s |
| teachers | teachers’ | men | men’s |
| dogs | dogs’ | geese | geese’s |
Quy tắc chung:
- Regular plural (kết thúc -s): Chỉ thêm apostrophe → students’, dogs’, cats’
- Irregular plural (KHÔNG kết thúc -s): Thêm ‘s → children’s, people’s, men’s
Lỗi phổ biến:
- ❌ childrens’ (SAI – không cần ‘s trước apostrophe)
- ✅ children’s (ĐÚNG)
- ❌ peoples’ (SAI – trừ khi nói về nhiều dân tộc: “different peoples’ cultures”)
- ✅ people’s (ĐÚNG cho general population)
Cách tránh:
Nhớ rằng irregular plurals KHÔNG có “-s” cuối, nên possessive form phải thêm ‘s (giống số ít).
Lỗi 7: Nhầm Lẫn Giữa “Fish/Fishes” và “Sheep/Sheeps”
❌ SAI:
“The farm has many sheeps.”
“We saw different fishs in the aquarium.”
“There are five deers in the forest.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“The farm has many sheep.”
“We saw different fish in the aquarium.” / “We saw different fishes.” (nhiều loài)
“There are five deer in the forest.”
Giải thích:
Một số động vật có hình thức số nhiều giống số ít. Học viên thường tự động thêm “-s” vì nghĩ đây là danh từ thông thường.
Danh từ giữ nguyên hình thức (Same Form):
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Lỗi thường gặp |
|---|---|---|
| one sheep | many sheep | ❌ sheeps |
| one deer | five deer | ❌ deers |
| one fish | some fish | ❌ fishs |
| one species | various species | ❌ specieses |
| one series | two series | ❌ serieses |
| one means | several means | ❌ meanses |
| one aircraft | many aircraft | ❌ aircrafts |
| one spacecraft | two spacecraft | ❌ spacecrafts |
Trường hợp đặc biệt – “Fish”:
- “fish” (số nhiều giống số ít) – khi nói về cùng loài: “I caught five fish.”
- “fishes” – khi nói về nhiều loài khác nhau: “The aquarium displays tropical fishes from different regions.”
- Trong IELTS, “fish” (không -es) là phổ biến hơn
Example sentences:
✅ “Farmers in this region raise sheep and cattle for wool and meat.”
✅ “The lake is home to many different species of birds.”
✅ “Scientists studied the behavior of deer in their natural habitat.”
✅ “The documentary showed various fish living in coral reefs.”
Cách nhớ:
Các động vật này đã “hoàn chỉnh” ở dạng gốc – không cần thay đổi gì để thành số nhiều!
Lỗi 8: Sử Dụng Sai “Data” – Singular hay Plural?
Tranh cãi về “Data”:
British English (IELTS Academic Writing nên dùng):
✅ “The data are conclusive.”
✅ “These data show a clear trend.”
✅ “The data indicate that…”
American English (chấp nhận được nhưng ít formal):
✅ “The data is conclusive.”
✅ “This data shows a clear trend.”
❌ HOÀN TOÀN SAI:
❌ “The datas are important.” (KHÔNG ĐƯỢC thêm -s)
❌ “Many datas were collected.” (data đã là số nhiều rồi)
Giải thích:
“Data” là số nhiều của “datum” (một điểm dữ liệu). Tuy nhiên, trong tiếng Anh hiện đại:
- Formal/Academic (IELTS): Treat “data” as plural → data are, data show
- Informal/American: Treat “data” as uncountable singular → data is, data shows
Các từ tương tự:
| Số ít (Latin/Greek) | Số nhiều | IELTS usage |
|---|---|---|
| datum | data | “The data show…” (plural preferred) |
| medium | media | “Social media have transformed…” (plural) |
| bacterium | bacteria | “The bacteria are harmful.” (plural) |
| criterion | criteria | “The criteria are strict.” (plural) |
| phenomenon | phenomena | “These phenomena occur…” (plural) |
IELTS Writing Task 1 Examples:
✅ British style (recommend):
“The data show that unemployment rates have decreased over the past decade.”
“According to the data, which were collected from 2010 to 2020, significant changes have occurred.”
✅ American style (acceptable):
“The data shows that unemployment rates have decreased.”
“According to the data, which was collected from 2010 to 2020, significant changes have occurred.”
Cách tránh nhầm lẫn:
- Trong IELTS Academic Writing, an toàn nhất là dùng “data” + plural verb (are/show/indicate/suggest/reveal)
- KHÔNG BAO GIỜ thêm “-s” vào “data” → ❌ “datas” là lỗi nghiêm trọng
- Nếu muốn nói “nhiều dữ liệu,” dùng: “multiple data sets,” “large amounts of data,” “extensive data”
Lỗi 9: Nhầm Lẫn “Peoples” vs. “People”
❌ SAI (trong hầu hết contexts):
“Many peoples believe in different religions.”
“Young peoples use social media frequently.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“Many people believe in different religions.”
“Young people use social media frequently.”
Giải thích:
“People” đã là số nhiều của “person”, nên không cần thêm “-s”. Tuy nhiên, “peoples” CÓ TỒN TẠI nhưng với nghĩa hoàn toàn khác.
“People” vs. “Peoples”:
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| person (số ít) | một người | “A person is waiting outside.” |
| people (số nhiều) | nhiều người | “Many people are waiting.” |
| peoples (số nhiều của “a people”) | các dân tộc, các quốc gia | “Indigenous peoples have unique cultures.” |
Khi nào dùng “peoples”:
✅ “The indigenous peoples of the Americas include hundreds of distinct groups.”
✅ “Different peoples around the world have different customs.”
✅ “The United Nations protects the rights of all peoples.”
Nghĩa:
- “a people” = một dân tộc, một cộng đồng có chung nguồn gốc/văn hóa
- “peoples” = nhiều dân tộc/cộng đồng khác nhau
Trong IELTS:
✅ General population (phổ biến hơn):
“People in modern society face many challenges.”
“Young people need better education.”
“Most people believe that…”
✅ Ethnic/Indigenous groups (ít gặp hơn):
“Indigenous peoples in Australia have maintained their traditions.”
“The peoples of Southeast Asia have diverse cultures.”
Lỗi thường gặp:
❌ “Vietnamese peoples” (SAI – muốn nói người Việt Nam nói chung)
✅ “Vietnamese people” (ĐÚNG)
❌ “Old peoples” (SAI)
✅ “Elderly people / Older people” (ĐÚNG)
Cách tránh:
- 95% trường hợp dùng “people” (không -s)
- Chỉ dùng “peoples” khi nói về nhiều dân tộc/cộng đồng khác nhau trong academic context
Lỗi 10: Sử Dụng Sai “Criteria” và “Phenomena”
❌ SAI:
“The university has a strict criteria for admission.”
“This phenomena is very interesting.”
“What criterias do you use to evaluate students?”
“Scientists study various phenomenons in nature.”
✅ ĐÚNG:
“The university has a strict criterion for admission.” (số ít)
“The university has strict criteria for admission.” (số nhiều)
“This phenomenon is very interesting.” (số ít)
“These phenomena are very interesting.” (số nhiều)
Giải thích:
Đây là các danh từ gốc Greek với hình thức số nhiều đặc biệt. Học viên thường:
- Dùng số nhiều khi cần số ít
- Thêm “-s” vào hình thức đã là số nhiều (criterias, phenomenons)
Các cặp Latin/Greek cần lưu ý:
| Số ít | Số nhiều | Lỗi thường gặp |
|---|---|---|
| criterion | criteria | ❌ “a criteria”, ❌ “criterias” |
| phenomenon | phenomena | ❌ “a phenomena”, ❌ “phenomenons” |
| analysis | analyses | ❌ “analysises” |
| hypothesis | hypotheses | ❌ “hypothesises” |
| thesis | theses | ❌ “thesises” |
| crisis | crises | ❌ “crisises” |
Cách dùng đúng:
Criterion (số ít) / Criteria (số nhiều):
✅ “The main criterion is academic performance.” (one standard)
✅ “The criteria include academic performance, work experience, and references.” (multiple standards)
✅ “Each university has different criteria for admission.”
❌ “Each university has different criterion.” (SAI – cần số nhiều)
Phenomenon (số ít) / Phenomena (số nhiều):
✅ “Climate change is a global phenomenon.” (one occurrence)
✅ “Scientists study various natural phenomena.” (multiple occurrences)
✅ “This phenomenon occurs regularly.”
❌ “These phenomenon occur regularly.” (SAI – cần số nhiều)
Trong IELTS Writing:
Band 7 example:
“Universities evaluate candidates based on several criteria, including test scores, personal statements, and interviews. The most important criterion is usually academic achievement.”
Band 8+ example:
“Social phenomena such as urbanization and migration have transformed modern societies. Each phenomenon presents unique challenges that require careful study. Researchers use multiple criteria to assess the impact of these changes, with economic development being a key criterion.”
Cách tránh:
- Nhớ: criterion (số ít), criteria (số nhiều) – KHÔNG phải “a criteria” hay “criterias”
- Nhớ: phenomenon (số ít), phenomena (số nhiều) – KHÔNG phải “a phenomena” hay “phenomenons”
- Khi thấy “various, several, multiple, these, different” → dùng số nhiều (criteria, phenomena)
- Khi thấy “a, this, one, the main” → dùng số ít (criterion, phenomenon)
Bài Tập Thực Hành
Bài Tập 1: Điền Dạng Đúng Của Danh Từ
Hoàn thành câu với dạng số nhiều đúng của danh từ trong ngoặc:
- Many __ (child) enjoy learning English through games and songs.
- The graph shows the number of __ (man) and __ (woman) employed in different sectors.
- Several __ (species) of wildlife are facing extinction due to habitat loss.
- The dentist examined all of my __ (tooth) during the check-up.
- Financial __ (crisis) have occurred repeatedly throughout history.
- The laboratory __ (mouse) were kept in controlled conditions for the experiment.
- __ (Person) from different cultures have varying perspectives on education.
- The farmer raises both __ (sheep) and cattle on his property.
- Modern __ (medium) of communication have transformed how we interact.
- The research team collected __ (datum) from over 1,000 participants.
- Scientists have proposed multiple __ (hypothesis) to explain climate change.
- The museum displays ancient __ (knife) and other tools from the Bronze Age.
- Many __ (phenomenon) in nature remain unexplained by science.
- The university has strict __ (criterion) for admitting international students.
- Our __ (analysis) of the data revealed surprising patterns.
- Wild __ (goose) migrate south every winter to escape the cold.
- The statue stands twenty __ (foot) tall and weighs several tons.
- Indigenous __ (people) around the world have unique traditions.
- The chef used several sharp __ (knife) to prepare the vegetables.
- Young __ (child) learn languages more easily than adults.
Bài Tập 2: Tìm Và Sửa Lỗi
Mỗi câu sau có MỘT lỗi liên quan đến irregular plurals. Tìm và sửa:
- Many childs in developing countries lack access to quality education. [❌]
- The data shows a clear upward trend in global temperatures. [❌]
- Several womans have been appointed to senior management positions. [❌]
- Scientists study various phenomenons related to climate change. [❌]
- The farm has over 200 sheeps grazing in the fields. [❌]
- These informations are very useful for our research project. [❌]
- Laboratory mouses are commonly used in medical research. [❌]
- The university uses multiple criterias to evaluate applicants. [❌]
- Many peoples believe that technology improves quality of life. [❌]
- The dentist extracted two of his tooths last week. [❌]
- Financial crisises often lead to increased unemployment rates. [❌]
- The children’s behavior was excellent during the field trip. [✅]
- We need to consider people’s opinions before making decisions. [✅]
- Recent analysises of economic data reveal interesting trends. [❌]
- The aquarium houses many different fishs from tropical regions. [❌]
- His foots were sore after walking for several hours. [❌]
- The teacher gave us many useful advices about studying. [❌]
- Several deers were spotted near the forest edge yesterday. [❌]
- The research team tested different hypothesises systematically. [❌]
- The report presents in-depth analyses of consumer behavior. [✅]
Bài Tập 3: Chọn Dạng Đúng
Chọn từ đúng trong ngoặc:
- The number of (person/people/peoples) attending the conference exceeded expectations.
- My (tooth/teeth/tooths) are sensitive to cold beverages.
- The (child/children/childs) were playing happily in the park.
- This (phenomenon/phenomena) has been observed in many countries.
- The university’s admission (criterion/criteria/criterions) include academic performance.
- Several (species/specie/specieses) of birds migrate through this region.
- The (data/datas/datum) indicate that the economy is recovering.
- Many (man/men/mans) and (woman/women/womans) work in technology.
- The farmer owns fifty (sheep/sheeps/sheepes) and twenty cattle.
- Scientists have developed multiple (hypothesis/hypotheses/hypothesises) to explain this.
- The restaurant provides sharp (knife/knives/knifes) for cutting steak.
- Financial (crisis/crises/crisises) can have long-lasting effects.
- The research team conducted detailed (analysis/analyses/analysises) of the results.
- Social (medium/media/mediums) have changed how (person/people/peoples) communicate.
- Indigenous (people/peoples/persons) have maintained their traditional customs.
Bài Tập 4: Subject-Verb Agreement
Chọn động từ đúng trong ngoặc:
- The children (is/are) playing in the garden.
- Many people (believes/believe) that education is the key to success.
- The data from the survey (show/shows) interesting trends. [Choose British English]
- Several species of fish (is/are) threatened by pollution.
- These phenomena (occurs/occur) naturally in many parts of the world.
- The criteria for admission (includes/include) test scores and interviews.
- All of my teeth (was/were) checked by the dentist.
- The number of men and women in leadership (has/have) increased.
- Five sheep (was/were) grazing near the river.
- The analyses (reveals/reveal) significant differences between groups.
Bài Tập 5: Viết Câu Hoàn Chỉnh
Viết câu hoàn chỉnh sử dụng irregular plural nouns với gợi ý cho sẵn:
-
(children / learn / language / easily / adults)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(data / recent study / suggest / people / spend / more time / social media)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(criteria / university / include / academic performance / work experience)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(many species / wildlife / face / extinction / habitat loss)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(phenomena / climate change / affect / people / around / world)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(dentist / examine / teeth / patients / regularly)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(analyses / economic data / reveal / interesting patterns)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(men / women / equal opportunities / modern society)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(farmer / raise / sheep / cattle / farm)
→ Your answer: ___ -
(crises / history / teach / valuable lessons)
→ Your answer: ___
Bài Tập 6: IELTS Writing Task 2 – Complete the Paragraph
Hoàn thành đoạn văn sau với dạng đúng của các danh từ trong khung:
Word Bank: child, person, crisis, data, phenomenon, species, medium, analysis, criterion, tooth
Modern society faces multiple environmental __ (1) that threaten both human __ (2) and wildlife. Recent __ (3) collected by environmental organizations __ (show/shows – choose one) that numerous __ (4) are becoming extinct at an alarming rate. These __ (5) require urgent attention from governments worldwide.
One important __ (6) for measuring environmental health is biodiversity. __ (7) of ecosystem __ (8) reveal that when one __ (9) disappears, it affects the entire food chain. Social __ (10) play a crucial role in raising awareness about these issues. By educating __ (11), especially __ (12), we can ensure that future generations understand the importance of conservation.
Bài Tập 7: Error Correction – IELTS Writing Sample
Đoạn văn sau có 10 lỗi liên quan đến irregular plurals. Tìm và sửa:
Education is one of the most important factors that shape young peoples’ lives. In many countries, childs start learning foreign languages at primary school, which provides numerous benefits. Recent datas from linguistic research shows that childrens who learn multiple languages develop better cognitive skills compared to monolingual peers.
However, several criterias must be considered when designing language programs for young learners. Teachers need to understand that every child have different learning needs and abilities. The phenomenons of language acquisition in childs is complex and influenced by many factors.
Furthermore, parents play a crucial role in their childrens education. When both mens and womans in a family support language learning, childs are more likely to succeed. Universities use various criterions to evaluate applicants’ language proficiency, making early language education increasingly important.
ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT
Đáp Án Bài Tập 1: Điền Dạng Đúng
-
children
- Giải thích: “Many” + danh từ số nhiều, child → children
-
men và women
- Giải thích: “number of” + plural nouns, man → men, woman → women
-
species
- Giải thích: “Several” + số nhiều, nhưng species số nhiều giống số ít
-
teeth
- Giải thích: “all of my” → số nhiều, tooth → teeth
-
crises
- Giải thích: “Financial” + số nhiều, crisis → crises (Latin origin)
-
mice
- Giải thích: “The laboratory” + số nhiều, mouse → mice
-
People
- Giải thích: Person → people (không dùng “persons” trong context này)
-
sheep
- Giải thích: “both” + số nhiều, sheep số nhiều giống số ít
-
media
- Giải thích: “Modern” + số nhiều, medium → media
-
data
- Giải thích: Datum → data (đã là số nhiều, không thêm -s)
-
hypotheses
- Giải thích: “multiple” + số nhiều, hypothesis → hypotheses
-
knives
- Giải thích: “ancient” + số nhiều, knife → knives (-f → -ves)
-
phenomena
- Giải thích: “Many” + số nhiều, phenomenon → phenomena
-
criteria
- Giải thích: “strict” + số nhiều, criterion → criteria
-
analyses
- Giải thích: “Our” + số nhiều, analysis → analyses
-
geese
- Giải thích: “Wild” + số nhiều, goose → geese
-
feet
- Giải thích: “twenty” + số nhiều, foot → feet
-
peoples
- Giải thích: “Indigenous peoples” = các dân tộc bản địa (special usage)
-
knives
- Giải thích: “several sharp” + số nhiều, knife → knives
-
children
- Giải thích: “Young” + số nhiều, child → children
Đáp Án Bài Tập 2: Tìm Và Sửa Lỗi
-
❌ childs → ✅ children
- Giải thích: Child có dạng số nhiều bất quy tắc là children, không thêm -s
-
❌ shows → ✅ show (hoặc chấp nhận “shows” trong American English)
- Giải thích: “Data” trong British English (IELTS standard) là số nhiều → dùng động từ số nhiều
-
❌ womans → ✅ women
- Giải thích: Woman → women (không thêm -s)
-
❌ phenomenons → ✅ phenomena
- Giải thích: Phenomenon → phenomena (Greek origin), không thêm -s
-
❌ sheeps → ✅ sheep
- Giải thích: Sheep số nhiều giống số ít, không thêm -s
-
❌ informations → ✅ information HOẶC ✅ pieces of information
- Giải thích: Information là uncountable noun, không có số nhiều
-
❌ mouses → ✅ mice
- Giải thích: Mouse → mice (vowel change)
-
❌ criterias → ✅ criteria
- Giải thích: Criteria đã là số nhiều của criterion, không thêm -s
-
❌ peoples → ✅ people
- Giải thích: “Many people” = nhiều người nói chung (không dùng peoples trừ khi nói về dân tộc)
-
❌ tooths → ✅ teeth
- Giải thích: Tooth → teeth, không thêm -s
-
❌ crisises → ✅ crises
- Giải thích: Crisis → crises (Latin origin), không thêm -es
-
✅ children’s – ĐÚNG
- Giải thích: Possessive form của children là children’s (thêm ‘s vì không kết thúc bằng -s)
-
✅ people’s – ĐÚNG
- Giải thích: Possessive form của people là people’s
-
❌ analysises → ✅ analyses
- Giải thích: Analysis → analyses (Greek origin), không thêm -es
-
❌ fishs → ✅ fish (hoặc fishes nếu nói về nhiều loài)
- Giải thích: Fish số nhiều thường giống số ít; “fishes” chỉ dùng khi nói về nhiều loài khác nhau
-
❌ foots → ✅ feet
- Giải thích: Foot → feet (vowel change)
-
❌ advices → ✅ advice HOẶC ✅ pieces of advice
- Giải thích: Advice là uncountable noun, không có số nhiều
-
❌ deers → ✅ deer
- Giải thích: Deer số nhiều giống số ít
-
❌ hypothesises → ✅ hypotheses
- Giải thích: Hypothesis → hypotheses (Greek origin)
-
✅ analyses – ĐÚNG
- Giải thích: Dạng số nhiều đúng của analysis
Đáp Án Bài Tập 3: Chọn Dạng Đúng
- people (The number of people…)
- teeth (My teeth are…)
- children (The children were…)
- phenomenon (This phenomenon – singular)
- criteria (admission criteria – plural)
- species (Several species – plural giống singular)
- data (The data indicate – British plural)
- men và women (Many men and women…)
- sheep (fifty sheep – plural giống singular)
- hypotheses (multiple hypotheses – plural)
- knives (sharp knives – plural)
- crises (Financial crises – plural)
- analyses (detailed analyses – plural)
- media và people (Social media… people communicate)
- peoples (Indigenous peoples – các dân tộc)
Đáp Án Bài Tập 4: Subject-Verb Agreement
- are (The children are…)
- believe (Many people believe…)
- show (British) / “shows” (American acceptable)
- are (Several species are…)
- occur (These phenomena occur…)
- include (The criteria include…)
- were (All of my teeth were…)
- has (The number… has – “number” là subject)
- were (Five sheep were…)
- reveal (The analyses reveal…)
Đáp Án Bài Tập 5: Viết Câu Hoàn Chỉnh
Suggested answers (có thể có nhiều cách viết đúng):
-
“Children learn languages more easily than adults.”
- Hoặc: “Children can learn new languages much more easily than adults can.”
-
“Data from a recent study suggest that people are spending more time on social media.”
- Hoặc: “Recent study data show that people spend increasingly more time on social media platforms.”
-
“The criteria for university admission include academic performance and work experience.”
- Hoặc: “University admission criteria typically include both academic performance and relevant work experience.”
-
“Many species of wildlife face extinction due to habitat loss.”
- Hoặc: “Numerous wildlife species are facing extinction because of habitat loss.”
-
“The phenomena of climate change affect people around the world.”
- Hoặc: “Climate change phenomena are affecting people in all parts of the world.”
-
“Dentists examine patients’ teeth regularly to prevent problems.”
- Hoặc: “The dentist examines patients’ teeth on a regular basis.”
-
“Analyses of economic data reveal interesting patterns in consumer behavior.”
- Hoặc: “Economic data analyses have revealed several interesting patterns.”
-
“Men and women should have equal opportunities in modern society.”
- Hoặc: “In modern society, both men and women deserve equal opportunities.”
-
“The farmer raises both sheep and cattle on his farm.”
- Hoặc: “Farmers typically raise sheep and cattle on their farms.”
-
“Historical crises teach us valuable lessons about resilience.”
- Hoặc: “Crises throughout history have taught humanity valuable lessons.”
Đáp Án Bài Tập 6: Complete the Paragraph
Modern society faces multiple environmental crises (1) that threaten both human beings/populations (2 – hoặc có thể dùng “people”) and wildlife. Recent data (3) collected by environmental organizations show (British) / shows (American acceptable) that numerous species (4) are becoming extinct at an alarming rate. These phenomena (5) require urgent attention from governments worldwide.
One important criterion (6) for measuring environmental health is biodiversity. Analyses (7) of ecosystem data (8) reveal that when one species (9) disappears, it affects the entire food chain. Social media (10) play a crucial role in raising awareness about these issues. By educating people (11), especially children (12), we can ensure that future generations understand the importance of conservation.
Đáp Án Bài Tập 7: Error Correction
Đoạn văn đã sửa (10 lỗi):
Education is one of the most important factors that shape young people’s [1: peoples’ → people’s] lives. In many countries, children [2: childs → children] start learning foreign languages at primary school, which provides numerous benefits. Recent data [3: datas → data] from linguistic research show [4: shows → show (British)] that children [5: childrens → children] who learn multiple languages develop better cognitive skills compared to monolingual peers.
However, several criteria [6: criterias → criteria] must be considered when designing language programs for young learners. Teachers need to understand that every child has [7: have → has (every + singular)] different learning needs and abilities. The phenomenon [8: phenomenons → phenomenon (hoặc phenomena nếu muốn dùng số nhiều)] of language acquisition in children [9: childs → children] is complex and influenced by many factors.
Furthermore, parents play a crucial role in their children’s [10: childrens → children’s] education. When both men [11: mens → men] and women [12: womans → women] in a family support language learning, children [13: childs → children] are more likely to succeed. Universities use various criteria [14: criterions → criteria] to evaluate applicants’ language proficiency, making early language education increasingly important.
Tổng số lỗi tìm được: 14 lỗi (nhiều hơn 10 lỗi nêu trong đề)
Phân loại lỗi:
- Lỗi thêm -s vào irregular plurals: childs, peoples, womans, mens
- Lỗi với Latin/Greek plurals: datas, criterias, criterions, phenomenons
- Lỗi subject-verb agreement: shows (nên là show với data)
- Lỗi possessive: childrens (nên là children’s)
Kết Bài
Tóm Tắt Kiến Thức Chính
Danh từ số nhiều bất quy tắc (Irregular Plural Nouns) là một thành phần ngữ pháp quan trọng giúp phân biệt khả năng tiếng Anh của thí sinh ở Band 7-9 trong kỳ thi IELTS. Việc sử dụng chính xác các danh từ này không chỉ thể hiện sự am hiểu sâu về ngữ pháp mà còn tạo ấn tượng tốt với giám khảo về vốn từ vựng học thuật.
Những điểm quan trọng cần nhớ:
✅ 8 nhóm irregular plurals chính:
- Thay đổi nguyên âm: man→men, woman→women, tooth→teeth, foot→feet
- Giữ nguyên hình thức: sheep, deer, fish, species
- Thêm -en: child→children, ox→oxen
- Đổi -f/-fe thành -ves: knife→knives, life→lives, wife→wives
- Nguồn gốc Latin/Greek: crisis→crises, analysis→analyses, phenomenon→phenomena, datum→data
- Danh từ ghép: mother-in-law→mothers-in-law
- Hoàn toàn khác biệt: person→people
- Collective nouns: police, team, family (có thể dùng singular hoặc plural verb)
✅ Trong IELTS Writing:
- Task 1: Sử dụng chính xác khi mô tả data, species, people, men, women
- Task 2: Thể hiện academic style với phenomena, crises, analyses, criteria, media
- Nhất quán trong cách dùng “data” (prefer British plural: “data show”)
✅ Trong IELTS Speaking:
- Part 1: Tự nhiên với people, children
- Part 2: Kể chuyện với children, geese, sheep, knives
- Part 3: Nâng cao với phenomena, crises, media, analyses
✅ Tránh các lỗi phổ biến:
- ❌ KHÔNG thêm -s: childs, womans, mouses, datas, criterias
- ❌ KHÔNG dùng sai động từ: “children was”, “people thinks”
- ❌ KHÔNG nhầm với uncountable: advices, informations, researches
- ✅ Nhớ possessive: children’s, people’s, men’s, women’s (KHÔNG phải childrens’, peoples’)
Lộ Trình Luyện Tập
Tuần 1-2: Nền Tảng
- Học thuộc 50 irregular plurals phổ biến nhất (xem danh sách trong bài)
- Làm 10 câu điền từ mỗi ngày
- Đọc Cambridge IELTS samples và highlight các irregular plurals
Tuần 3-4: Vận Dụng
- Viết 5 câu mỗi ngày sử dụng irregular plurals
- Ghi âm Speaking Part 2 responses sử dụng ít nhất 5 irregular plurals
- Viết Task 2 essays với ít nhất 10 irregular plurals đa dạng
Tuần 5-6: Nâng Cao
- Tập trung vào Latin/Greek plurals (crises, phenomena, analyses, criteria, data)
- Luyện kết hợp với relative clauses, passive voice, modal verbs
- Viết Band 8-9 level paragraphs với academic collocations
Tuần 7-8: Hoàn Thiện
- Tham gia Speaking mock tests, yêu cầu feedback về grammar accuracy
- Viết full Writing Task 2 essays và tự kiểm tra irregular plurals
- Làm các đề thi thực tế từ Cambridge 15-19
Đề Luyện Tập Bổ Sung
Speaking Topics (Sử dụng Irregular Plurals):
Part 2:
-
Describe a group of people you know well
- Focus: children, men, women, people
- Example: family, classmates, colleagues
-
Describe a memorable trip you took
- Focus: sheep, deer, geese, fish, species, people
- Example: farm visit, wildlife reserve, aquarium
-
Describe a problem you faced and how you solved it
- Focus: crises, phenomena, analyses, criteria, data
- Example: academic research, work challenge
Part 3:
-
How has technology changed the way people communicate?
- Focus: people, media, phenomena, data, analyses
-
What challenges do young people face today?
- Focus: youth, children, people, crises, phenomena
-
How important is it to protect endangered species?
- Focus: species, fish, geese, deer, sheep, analyses, criteria
Writing Task 2 Topics:
-
Education – Opinion Essay
“Some people believe that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”- Key irregular plurals: children, people, analyses, data, phenomena, criteria
-
Environment – Problem-Solution
“Many species of plants and animals are becoming extinct. What are the causes of this problem, and what measures can be taken to address it?”- Key irregular plurals: species, fish, sheep, deer, geese, crises, phenomena, analyses, criteria
-
Society – Discussion
“Some people think that men and women have different natural abilities that make them suitable for different types of work. Do you agree or disagree?”- Key irregular plurals: men, women, people, children, data, analyses, criteria
-
Technology – Advantage-Disadvantage
“Social media platforms have changed how people communicate and interact. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?”- Key irregular plurals: people, media, phenomena, crises, data, analyses
-
Health – Two-part Question
“In many countries, people are living longer and the population is aging. What are the effects of this trend? What measures can be taken to address the challenges?”- Key irregular plurals: people, men, women, children, crises, phenomena, data, analyses
Writing Task 1 Topics:
-
Line Graph: “The graph shows the number of men, women and children participating in sports activities from 2000 to 2020.”
-
Bar Chart: “The chart compares the number of different species of animals at three zoos.”
-
Table: “The table presents data on tooth decay rates in children across five countries.”
-
Process Diagram: “The diagram illustrates how sheep’s wool is processed to make clothing.”
Yêu cầu cho tất cả đề: Sử dụng ít nhất 8-10 irregular plurals khác nhau một cách tự nhiên và chính xác. Đặc biệt chú ý đến subject-verb agreement và possessive forms.
Lời khuyên cuối:
Thành thạo irregular plural nouns không phải là việc học thuộc lòng quy tắc mà là qua luyện tập thường xuyên và tiếp xúc nhiều với tiếng Anh academic. Hãy đọc nhiều bài mẫu Band 8-9, chú ý cách các tác giả sử dụng people, children, data, phenomena, crises, analyses một cách tự nhiên trong ngữ cảnh học thuật.
Khi viết Writing Task 2, đừng cố gắng “nhồi nhét” quá nhiều irregular plurals một cách gượng ép. Thay vào đó, hãy sử dụng chúng một cách tự nhiên khi topic phù hợp. Ví dụ:
- Education topics → children, people, curricula, criteria
- Environment topics → species, sheep, deer, fish, crises, phenomena
- Social issues → people, men, women, media, crises, analyses
- Science topics → data, hypotheses, analyses, phenomena, bacteria, mice
Chúc bạn học tốt và đạt Band điểm cao trong kỳ thi IELTS!