A Goose at the Office Door

The rule

Goose refers to a single bird. Geese refers to two or more of those birds. The standard plural form is geese. The form gooses is incorrect for the plural of the bird.

Example 1 of 3

Say it like this

One goose is standing right beside the main reception door.

The singular number word one takes goose and the singular verb is.

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Example 2 of 3

Say it like this

Three geese are walking across the lawn toward the parking area.

The number three takes the irregular plural noun geese and the plural verb are.

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Example 3 of 3

Say it like this

That goose looks calm, but those geese near the bike rack are making noise.

Demonstrative that pairs with singular goose, while those pairs with plural geese.

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Good to know

The change from goose to geese changes the vowel spelling from double o to double e and the vowel sound from /uː/ to /iː/.

Quick check

Answer in your head. Answers next.

1. 1. Which phrase correctly combines a determiner with the noun?
   • A these goose
   • B that geese
   • C those geese

Answers

1. 1. those geeseThose is a plural determiner and correctly pairs with the plural noun geese.