Plural of Hurt: Rules, Usage, and Examples in Modern English

Forming plural nouns in English is usually straightforward—add an -s or -es to the end of the word, and you’re done. But what happens with less common or ambiguous words, such as hurt? The plural of hurt is a topic that often puzzles English learners, writers, editors, and even native speakers. That’s because hurt is used as both a verb and a noun, and its pluralization only applies to its noun form.

Understanding the plural form of hurt is essential for clear, accurate communication—especially when expressing multiple injuries or emotional pains, whether in writing or in conversation. This article will guide you through every aspect of pluralizing hurt, with clear rules, abundant examples, and practical exercises to solidify your understanding.

Whether you’re an ESL/EFL learner, a teacher, a professional writer, an editor, or a native speaker seeking clarity, this guide will help you master the nuances of hurt in its plural form. Here’s what you’ll learn:

The definition and grammatical role of hurt
How and when to use hurts as a plural noun
Countable vs. uncountable usage and common mistakes
Dozens of real-world examples, including literary and idiomatic uses
Practice exercises with answers for self-study or classroom use
Advanced insights, comparisons with synonyms, and historical notes

1. Definition Section
2. Structural Breakdown
3. Types or Categories
4. Examples Section
5. Usage Rules
6. Common Mistakes
7. Practice Exercises
8. Advanced Topics
9. FAQ Section
10. Conclusion

1. Definition Section

A. What Is “Hurt”?

As a verb, hurt means to cause pain, injury, or emotional distress. For example: She hurt her knee while running.

As a noun, hurt refers to an injury, wound, or emotional pain. For example: He suffered a deep hurt after the argument.

B. Grammatical Classification

To understand how hurt functions, let’s compare its verb and noun forms:

Table 1: “Hurt” as Verb vs. Noun
Grammatical Role	Definition	Example
Verb	To cause pain or injury	My ankle hurts.
Noun (Countable)	An individual injury or wound	He has several hurts on his arm.
Noun (Uncountable)	General pain or suffering	She feels a lot of hurt.

Countable usage: When referring to specific injuries or emotional wounds, hurt can take a plural form (hurts).

Uncountable usage: When referring to pain or suffering in general, hurt is used as a mass (uncountable) noun and does not take a plural.

C. Pluralization in English Nouns

Regular pluralization: Most English nouns are pluralized by adding -s or -es (e.g., cat → cats, box → boxes).

Irregular nouns: Some nouns have irregular plurals (e.g., child → children, man → men). A few nouns do not change in the plural (e.g., sheep).

D. The Plural of “Hurt”

Explicit rule: The plural of the noun hurt is hurts.

Verb note: The verb hurt does not have a plural form. Instead, it inflects for tense and person (hurt, hurts, hurting, hurt), but not for number in the way nouns do.

2. Structural Breakdown

A. Regular Plural Formation

Rule: To form the plural of hurt (when used as a countable noun), add -s: hurt → hurts.

Examples:

One hurt → several hurts
A hurt from the fall → many hurts from the accident

B. Countable vs. Uncountable Use

Countable: Hurts refers to distinct, individual injuries or emotional wounds.

Uncountable: Hurt refers to pain or suffering as a general concept.

Countable: “He has many hurts on his skin.”
Uncountable: “He feels a lot of hurt.”

C. Morphological Structure

Table 2: Singular vs. Plural Forms with Sample Sentences
Form	Example Sentence
Singular (hurt)	She suffered a hurt to her pride.
Plural (hurts)	He has many hurts from his past experiences.

In sentences, hurt as a noun can function as a subject, object, or complement.

D. Pronunciation

IPA for “hurt”: [hɜːt]

IPA for “hurts”: [hɜːts]

The plural hurts adds a voiceless [s] sound at the end, making it slightly longer and sharper than the singular.

E. “Hurt” as Part of Compound Nouns/Expressions

Hurt frequently appears in compound expressions, especially in the plural.

Table 3: Compound Noun Usage Examples
Expression	Meaning	Example
old hurts	Emotional wounds from the past	She still remembers old hurts from her childhood.
childhood hurts	Injuries or emotional pain experienced as a child	Many adults carry childhood hurts into their adult lives.
deep hurts	Profound or lasting pain	His words reopened deep hurts.
past hurts	Injuries or emotional pain from the past	She is learning to heal her past hurts.

3. Types or Categories

A. Physical vs. Emotional Hurts

Physical hurts: Refers to bodily injuries or wounds (e.g., cuts, bruises).
Emotional hurts: Refers to psychological or emotional pain (e.g., betrayal, loss).

Distinction: While both can be pluralized, emotional hurts often appears in literary or therapeutic contexts.

B. Concrete vs. Abstract Noun Usage

Concrete: Hurts that can be physically seen or felt (cuts, scrapes).
Abstract: Hurts that are metaphorical or emotional (heartbreak, insult).

C. Singular, Plural, and Mass Noun Use

Table 4: Singular, Plural, and Uncountable Usage Examples
Form	Example	Explanation
Singular	A hurt on his leg was bleeding.	One specific injury
Plural	Many hurts covered his body after the accident.	Multiple injuries
Uncountable	He felt deep hurt after the breakup.	General, uncountable pain

D. Colloquial, Literary, and Formal Usage

Colloquial: “Hurt” is more common in everyday speech; “hurts” as a noun is less frequent but understood.
Literary: “Hurts” appears in poetry and literature to evoke a sense of multiple pains or wounds.
Formal: “Hurts” may be used in medical, psychological, or therapeutic writing.

4. Examples Section

A. Simple Sentences

10 Examples of “hurt” as a singular noun:

He suffered a hurt to his arm.
The insult caused her a deep hurt.
The hurt on his hand was healing.
The breakup left him with a hurt he could not explain.
She remembers the hurt of losing her pet.
The player ignored the hurt in his knee.
A hurt like that takes time to heal.
The teacher saw the hurt in the child’s eyes.
He tried to hide his hurt from others.
That comment was a real hurt to her feelings.

10 Examples of “hurts” as a plural noun:

He has many hurts on his body after the accident.
She carries old hurts from her childhood.
Past hurts make it hard for him to trust.
All his hurts were finally addressed by the doctor.
The therapist helped her work through her emotional hurts.
The children had several hurts from playing outside.
Years of hurts have made her cautious.
His hurts are both physical and emotional.
Those hurts need time to heal.
They talked about their hurts in group therapy.

Table 5: Singular vs. Plural Example Sentences
Singular (hurt)	Plural (hurts)
She felt a hurt in her heart.	She still feels many hurts from her past.
He has a hurt on his knee.	He has hurts all over his legs.
The rejection was a hurt he could not forget.	Old hurts resurfaced during the discussion.
A single hurt can change a person.	Life brings many hurts and joys.
Childhood can be full of hurt.	Childhood hurts can last a lifetime.

B. Contextual Examples

Table 6: Physical vs. Emotional Usage
Physical Usage	Emotional Usage
He has several hurts on his arm.	She carries old hurts from her childhood.
The nurse treated the children’s hurts.	He cannot forget the hurts from his past relationships.
All his hurts were bandaged.	Years of emotional hurts have hardened her.
Small hurts can become infected if ignored.	Deep hurts take longer to heal than physical wounds.

C. Complex Sentences and Varied Tenses

If you open up about your hurts, healing can begin.
Many hurts that we ignore in childhood resurface later in life.
Although his physical hurts healed, his emotional hurts lingered for years.
They have been discussing their hurts with a counselor every week.
Had she addressed her hurts earlier, she might have avoided further pain.
As the years passed, his old hurts faded, but new ones took their place.
She will eventually overcome the hurts that life has given her.
Not all hurts are visible to the eye.
Their hurts, though different, brought them closer together.
He wonders if his hurts will ever truly heal.

D. Examples in Idioms and Collocations

Table 7: Collocations and Set Phrases
Phrase	Example
old hurts	She can’t let go of her old hurts.
past hurts	He tries not to let past hurts affect his present.
deep hurts	His deep hurts are not easy to express.
childhood hurts	Therapy helped her work through her childhood hurts.
old emotional hurts	His old emotional hurts make him cautious in relationships.
lingering hurts	There are lingering hurts in the family.
hidden hurts	She has many hidden hurts that few know about.
unhealed hurts	Unhealed hurts can influence your decisions.
fresh hurts	Fresh hurts reopened old wounds.
small hurts	Small hurts can add up over time.

E. Examples in Literature and Media

“She had lived with her hurts so long, they felt like old friends.” (novel)
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past. The hurts remain.” (paraphrased from William Faulkner)
“We all have our hurts, but healing is possible.” (self-help book)
“There are hurts so deep they never truly fade.” (poetry)
“He wears his hurts like armor.” (drama series)
“All the hurts of my childhood resurfaced in that moment.” (memoir)
“She tried to bury her hurts, but they found their way back.” (short story)
“Hurts, both old and new, shaped her worldview.” (literary review)
“The scars of physical hurts fade, but emotional ones linger.” (article)
“In the end, it’s not the hurts that define us, but how we heal from them.” (motivational speech)

F. Comparative Table

Table 8: “Hurt” vs. Synonyms
Word	Plural	Example	Notes
hurt	hurts	He has many hurts from his past.	Less common in everyday speech
wound	wounds	He has several wounds on his arm.	Physical injury, more common than “hurts”
pain	pains	She suffers from many pains.	Physical or emotional, “pains” is less common
injury	injuries	He has a few injuries after the match.	Physical harm, more technical

G. Cumulative Example List

Below is a categorized list of 50 example sentences using hurt and hurts as nouns:

He suffered a hurt to his pride.
The boy has a hurt on his forehead.
It was a hurt she could not hide.
She felt a hurt deep inside her heart.
My only hurt is that you lied to me.
The player ignored the hurt in his foot.
After the argument, a strange hurt lingered between them.
She tried to move past the hurt.
That remark caused a hurt that would not heal.
The hurt in his eyes was obvious.
He has many hurts on his arms from the accident.
She carries old hurts from her childhood.
Past hurts make it hard for him to trust others.
His hurts are both physical and emotional.
The children had several hurts from playing outside.
All his hurts were finally addressed by the doctor.
The therapist helped her work through her emotional hurts.
Years of hurts have made her cautious.
Those hurts need time to heal.
They talked about their hurts in group therapy.
If you open up about your hurts, healing can begin.
Many hurts that we ignore in childhood resurface later.
Although his physical hurts healed, his emotional hurts lingered.
They have been discussing their hurts with a counselor.
Had she addressed her hurts earlier, she might have avoided pain.
His old hurts faded, but new ones took their place.
She will overcome the hurts life has given her.
Not all hurts are visible to the eye.
Their hurts brought them closer together.
He wonders if his hurts will ever truly heal.
She can’t let go of her old hurts.
He tries not to let past hurts affect his present.
His deep hurts are not easy to express.
Therapy helped her work through her childhood hurts.
His old emotional hurts make him cautious.
There are lingering hurts in the family.
She has many hidden hurts that few know about.
Unhealed hurts can influence your decisions.
Fresh hurts reopened old wounds.
Small hurts can add up over time.
“She had lived with her hurts so long, they felt like old friends.”
“The hurts remain.”
“We all have our hurts, but healing is possible.”
“There are hurts so deep they never truly fade.”
“He wears his hurts like armor.”
“All the hurts of my childhood resurfaced in that moment.”
“She tried to bury her hurts, but they found their way back.”
“Hurts, both old and new, shaped her worldview.”
“The scars of physical hurts fade, but emotional ones linger.”
“It’s not the hurts that define us, but how we heal from them.”

5. Usage Rules

A. When to Use “Hurts”

Use “hurts” as a plural noun when referring to multiple, countable injuries or emotional wounds.

Example: “Many hurts were left unhealed.”
Example: “She has spoken about her childhood hurts.”

B. When Not to Use the Plural

Do not use “hurts” in uncountable or mass noun contexts. If referring to pain in general, use “hurt” without the -s.

Incorrect: “She felt many hurts after the breakup.” (if referring to general pain)
Correct: “She felt a lot of hurt after the breakup.”

C. Subject-Verb Agreement

Important distinction: Hurts as a noun is plural; hurts as a verb is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb “hurt.”

Table 9: Noun vs. Verb – Examples Side by Side
“Hurts” as Noun	“Hurts” as Verb
Her hurts are many.	Her leg hurts.
They discussed their hurts.	He hurts easily.
Old hurts never truly disappear.	It hurts when you ignore me.

D. Exceptions and Regional Variations

In US English, hurts as a plural noun is less common in everyday conversation; wounds or injuries is often used instead.
In UK English, hurts can be used in literary or poetic contexts.
Note: In some contexts, “hurts” may sound old-fashioned or overly formal.

E. Special Cases

Medical: “Hurts” may be used in pediatric or psychological contexts (“Describe your hurts to the doctor”).
Poetic: “Hurts” is often used for stylistic effect in poetry and song lyrics.
Therapeutic: “Hurts” can appear in counseling or psychological literature to describe emotional wounds.

6. Common Mistakes

A. Confusing Noun and Verb Forms

Incorrect: “He hurts on his arm.” (verb form used as noun)
Correct: “He has hurts on his arm.” (noun form)

B. Overusing the Plural

Incorrect: “She has many hurts.” (if meaning general pain)
Correct: “She has a lot of hurt.”

C. Spelling and Pronunciation Errors

Common misspellings: “herts,” “hurtses,” “hirts.”
Mispronunciation: Failing to pronounce the final [s] in “hurts.”

D. Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement

Incorrect (noun): “His hurts is unhealed.”
Correct: “His hurts are unhealed.”

E. Table 10: Correct vs. Incorrect Usage Examples

Table 10: Correct vs. Incorrect Usage
Incorrect	Correct
He hurts on his arm.	He has hurts on his arm.
She has many hurts. (referring to general pain)	She has a lot of hurt.
His hurts is unhealed.	His hurts are unhealed.
She have hurts on her legs.	She has hurts on her legs.
He has a lot of hurts. (meaning general pain)	He has a lot of hurt.
Herts, hurtses	Hurts

7. Practice Exercises

A. Fill-in-the-Blank

After the fall, he had several ______ on his arm.
She still feels a lot of ______ from the breakup.
The therapist helped him process his old ______.
The boy has a ______ on his forehead.
All his ______ were bandaged by the nurse.
Time can heal even the deepest ______.
She talked about her childhood ______.
The doctor asked the child to show his ______.
He ignored the ______ in his knee.
They shared their ______ in group therapy.

B. Correction Exercises

Identify and correct the error in each sentence:

He hurts on his leg.
She has many hurts. (meaning general pain)
His hurts is serious.
She have hurts on her back.
He has a lot of hurts. (meaning general pain)
There are a hurt on his face.
The hurts was not treated.
I saw many herts at the clinic.
All her emotional hurts is healed.
He is hurts after the game.

C. Identification Exercises

Mark each usage as Correct, Incorrect, or Ambiguous:

He has hurts on his hands.
She has a lot of hurt.
She hurts every day.
Many hurts were unhealed.
He have hurts on his knee.
His hurts are deep.
The hurt was severe.
He has many hurts. (meaning general pain)
She feels hurt.
Their hurts is gone.

D. Sentence Construction

Write 5 sentences using “hurts” correctly as a plural noun:

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

E. Transformation Practice

Change the following sentences from singular to plural or vice versa:

He has a hurt on his arm. → ________________________________
She carries many hurts from her childhood. → ________________________________
The hurt in his eyes was obvious. → ________________________________
All his hurts were addressed by the doctor. → ________________________________
The child had a hurt on his leg. → ________________________________

F. Table 11: Exercise Answer Key

Table 11: Exercise Answer Key
Section	Answers
Fill-in-the-Blank	1. hurts 2. hurt 3. hurts 4. hurt 5. hurts 6. hurt 7. hurts 8. hurts 9. hurt 10. hurts
Correction Exercises	1. He has a hurt on his leg. 2. She has a lot of hurt. 3. His hurts are serious. 4. She has hurts on her back. 5. He has a lot of hurt. 6. There is a hurt on his face. 7. The hurts were not treated. 8. I saw many hurts at the clinic. 9. All her emotional hurts are healed. 10. He is hurt after the game.
Identification Exercises	1. Correct 2. Correct 3. Correct (verb usage) 4. Correct 5. Incorrect 6. Correct 7. Correct 8. Incorrect 9. Correct (verb usage) 10. Incorrect
Sentence Construction	Example answers: 1. She still remembers her childhood hurts. 2. His hurts were both physical and emotional. 3. The children had several hurts after playing. 4. Years of hurts have made her cautious. 5. The therapist helped her talk about her hurts.
Transformation Practice	1. He has hurts on his arms. 2. She carries a hurt from her childhood. 3. The hurts in his eyes were obvious. 4. All his hurt was addressed by the doctor. 5. The child had hurts on his legs.

8. Advanced Topics

A. Diachronic (Historical) Changes in Usage

Historically, hurts as a plural noun was more common in Middle and Early Modern English, often used to mean wounds or injuries. Over time, synonyms like wounds and injuries became more prevalent, especially in medical contexts. Today, hurts is retained mostly in literary, poetic, or therapeutic language.

B. Register and Stylistic Considerations

In formal writing, “hurts” may be used in psychology or counseling literature to discuss multiple emotional pains. In poetry, “hurts” evokes a sense of accumulation and depth. In everyday speech, “wounds” or “injuries” are more common for physical pain, while “hurt” is used for uncountable emotional pain.

C. Cross-Linguistic Comparison

Many languages distinguish between physical and emotional pains, but may not pluralize “hurt” in the same way. For example:

French: blessure(s) (wound, injury)
Spanish: herida(s) (wound), dolor (pain, uncountable)
German: Verletzung(en) (injury, wound), Schmerz(en) (pain, can be plural)

D. Semantic Nuances

Hurts: Suggests less severe, possibly emotional or minor injuries; can be physical or emotional, less commonly used than “wounds” or “injuries.”
Wounds: Implies deeper, often physical injuries.
Injuries: Technical or medical term for physical harm.
Pains: Can be physical or emotional, but “pains” is less common than “pain” (uncountable).

E. Corpus Analysis

A search of major English language corpora (COCA, BNC) shows “hurts” as a plural noun is rare compared to “wounds” or “injuries.” When it does appear, it is often in literary or therapeutic contexts, or in set phrases like “old hurts” or “childhood hurts.”

9. FAQ Section

Is “hurts” ever correct as a plural noun?

Yes, “hurts” is correct as the plural form of the noun “hurt” when referring to multiple injuries or emotional wounds.
What is the plural of the verb “hurt”?

Verbs do not have plural forms. “Hurts” is the third-person singular present tense of the verb “hurt” (e.g., “He hurts”).
When should I use “hurt” vs. “hurts” as a noun?

Use “hurt” for singular or uncountable pain; use “hurts” for multiple, countable injuries or emotional wounds.
Can “hurt” be used as an uncountable noun?

Yes, “hurt” is often used as an uncountable noun when referring to pain or suffering in general.
Are there contexts where “hurts” sounds unnatural?

Yes, in everyday speech, “hurts” as a plural noun is uncommon and may sound formal or literary. “Wounds” or “injuries” are usually preferred.
How do I distinguish “hurts” (noun) from “hurts” (verb)?

The noun “hurts” refers to multiple injuries or emotional pains; the verb “hurts” is the third-person singular form of “to hurt.”
Is “hurts” commonly used in spoken English?

No, it is less common in spoken English. “Injuries,” “wounds,” or “pain” are more frequently used.
What are some synonyms for “hurts” as a plural noun?

Wounds, injuries, pains (though “pains” is less common), scars (for old hurts).
How do I use “hurts” in idiomatic expressions?

Common phrases include “old hurts,” “past hurts,” “deep hurts,” “childhood hurts,” “unhealed hurts.”
Are there regional differences in the use of “hurts”?

Yes. “Hurts” is more likely to appear in British English literature or therapy contexts than in American everyday speech.
Can “hurts” refer to both physical and emotional pain?

Yes, “hurts” can refer to multiple physical injuries or multiple emotional wounds.
What are common mistakes with “hurt” and “hurts”?

Common mistakes include confusing verb and noun forms, overusing the plural, spelling errors, and incorrect subject-verb agreement.

10. Conclusion

In summary, the plural of the noun hurt is hurts, though its use is less common than synonyms like “wounds” or “injuries.” Understanding when and how to use “hurts”—especially distinguishing countable from uncountable contexts, and noun from verb forms—is essential for accurate, nuanced English communication.

By mastering rules of pluralization, practicing with real examples, and recognizing common errors, learners and advanced speakers alike can improve both their written and spoken English. For further study, explore related topics such as countable and uncountable nouns, synonyms for pain and injury, and nuanced usage in literature.

Final takeaway: Attention to subtle grammar points, like the plural of “hurt,” leads to clearer, more confident, and more effective English communication.

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