Plural of Penny: Comprehensive Guide, Rules, Examples & Usage Explained

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The noun “penny” is small in value but large in complexity when it comes to its plural forms. Many English learners, writers, and even native speakers are surprised to discover that “penny” has two different plurals: “pennies” and “pence”. These forms are not interchangeable and have distinct meanings, especially in British and American English. This often leads to confusion in spoken and written communication, examinations, and even business transactions.

Understanding the plural of “penny” is essential for students, teachers, writers, and anyone using English in financial, historical, or everyday contexts. Whether you’re reading classic literature, handling currency, or preparing for exams, mastering when and how to use “pennies” and “pence” is a vital skill.

This comprehensive article will guide you through definitions, rules, examples, tables, practice exercises, advanced topics, and FAQs. We will clarify the correct usage in both British and American English, address common mistakes, and provide practical resources for mastery. By the end, you’ll be confident in using “pennies” and “pence” correctly in any context.

Let’s embark on this journey to unlock the secrets of the plural of “penny” and enhance your English proficiency!

Table of Contents

3. Definition Section

3.1 What Is a “Penny”?

A “penny” is a noun referring to a small unit of currency. In the United Kingdom, it is the basic monetary unit, equal to 1/100 of a pound sterling (symbol: p). In the United States and Canada, a penny is the informal name for a one-cent coin (symbol: ¢).

Historically, the penny has existed for over a thousand years, first as a silver coin in Anglo-Saxon England. The word “penny” comes from Old English penig or penning.

3.2 Grammatical Classification

  • Countable noun: You can count pennies (one penny, two pennies, etc.).
  • Currency noun: Used for specific monetary values (e.g., “fifty pence”).

Examples:

  • “I found a penny on the ground.”
  • “She saved fifty pennies.”

3.3 The Concept of Plurals in English

Most English nouns form the plural by adding -s or -es (e.g., dog → dogs, box → boxes). However, some nouns have irregular plurals or more than one plural form, often influenced by history or usage. “Penny” is a prime example of a noun with dual plurals.

3.4 Plural Forms of “Penny”

“Penny” has two accepted plurals:

  • Pennies (regular plural): Refers to individual coins.
  • Pence (irregular plural): Refers to an amount of money (mainly British English).

This difference is unique and can lead to confusion without clear understanding.

3.5 Usage Contexts for Plural of “Penny”

  • Everyday conversation: “I found three pennies.”
  • Financial contexts: “The price is eighty pence.”
  • Literary/historical: “He paid a hundred pence in taxes.”
Form Pronunciation (IPA) Part of Speech Meaning Example Sentence
Penny /ˈpɛni/ Noun (singular) One coin; one cent (US) or one pence (UK) There is a penny on the floor.
Pennies /ˈpɛniz/ Noun (plural, regular) Individual coins I have five pennies in my pocket.
Pence /pɛns/ Noun (plural, irregular) Amount of money (UK); rarely individual coins The item costs twenty pence.

Example sentences:

  • She dropped three pennies on the ground.
  • The ticket costs fifty pence.
  • He gave me a shiny penny.
  • There are old pennies in my collection.
  • In the UK, one hundred pence equals one pound.
  • How many pennies do you need to make up a dollar?
  • She counted out thirty pence to pay the bus fare.
  • I found a penny under the sofa.

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1 Regular Pluralization: “Pennies”

The most common way to form the plural of nouns ending in -y preceded by a consonant is to change the y to i and add es.

  • Identify the noun: penny
  • Remove the final y: penn-
  • Add ies: pennies

Other examples:

  • baby → babies
  • city → cities
  • party → parties
  • berry → berries

Examples:

  • I put three pennies in the jar.
  • There are several pennies on the counter.

4.2 Irregular Pluralization: “Pence”

“Pence” is an irregular plural, used mainly in British English to refer to a quantity or amount of money, not individual coins. The word comes from Old English pening or penig, with plural forms “peningas” and, later, “pence.”

Examples:

  • The cost is twenty pence.
  • She needed fifty pence for the phone call.

4.3 Syntactic Function in Sentences

“Penny,” “pennies,” and “pence” can function as:

  • Subject: Pennies are made of copper.
  • Object: She found five pence.
  • Complement: The total was ten pence.

Count noun: “Pennies” (can be counted: 1 penny, 2 pennies)
Mass/currency noun: “Pence” (refers to an unspecified amount)

4.4 Contextual Triggers for Each Plural Form

  • Use pennies for individual coins, especially in American English.
  • Use pence for an amount of money, especially in British English.
  • Context cues: “How many coins?” → pennies; “How much money?” → pence.

Examples:

  • She has four pennies in her hand. (coins)
  • The price is sixty pence. (amount)

4.5 Morphological Table

Singular Regular Plural Irregular Plural IPA Pronunciation Example Sentence
penny pennies pence /ˈpɛni/, /ˈpɛniz/, /pɛns/ I paid ten pence for a pen.
She found six pennies.
Other Nouns with Dual Plurals
Singular Regular Plural Irregular Plural Notes Example
brother brothers brethren Brethren is archaic/used for members of a group He has two brothers. The brethren gathered at church.
die dies dice Dice for gaming; dies in manufacturing Roll the dice. The factory uses several dies.
penny pennies pence Pennies = coins; pence = amount He found four pennies. The cost is thirty pence.

More example sentences:

  • I collected a handful of pennies.
  • The vending machine requires fifty pence.
  • He found two shiny pennies on the path.
  • The price increased by ten pence.
  • She keeps her old pennies in a jar.
  • The sum of seventy-five pence was donated.
  • My wallet is full of pennies.
  • He donated twenty pence to charity.
  • There are several pennies under the sofa.
  • The fare is ninety pence.
  • I have no pennies left.
  • Can you spare some pence?
  • The collection includes rare pennies.
  • The item costs a few pence.
  • He exchanged his pennies for a dollar.
  • She counted out thirty pence.
  • The jar is full of old pennies.
  • He paid with two pennies and a nickel.
  • It costs fifty pence to enter.
  • There are three pennies on the desk.

5. Types or Categories

5.1 American English Usage

In American English, “pennies” is the standard plural when referring to one-cent coins. “Pence” is not used in US currency contexts.

  • My piggy bank is full of pennies.
  • I need four more pennies to make a nickel.

5.2 British English Usage

  • Pence refers to an amount of money (e.g., “seventy pence”).
  • Pennies refers to individual coins (especially if discussing specific coins).

Examples:

  • The price is sixty pence.
  • She collected old Victorian pennies.

5.3 Historical and Archaic Usage

In historical texts, “pence” often appears as the plural, sometimes meaning coins or amounts. Other obsolete forms like “pennys” or “penies” existed in Middle English but are no longer used.

  • He paid one hundred pence in taxes (Shakespearean usage).

5.4 Comparative Table: American vs. British Usage

Context Singular Regular Plural Irregular Plural Example Sentence
US – Coin penny pennies – I have five pennies.
US – Amount cent cents – The toy costs fifty cents.
UK – Coin penny pennies – She found three Victorian pennies.
UK – Amount penny – pence The fare is sixty pence.

5.5 Non-Currency Uses

“Penny” appears in idioms and figurative expressions:

  • A penny for your thoughts
  • Penny-wise, pound-foolish
  • Spend a penny (euphemism in UK English)

Pluralization in figurative language:

  • He gave me his last two pennies on the subject.
  • There are many pennies of wisdom in this book.
Summary Table: Types and Categories
Region/Context Preferred Plural Usage Example
American English (coins) pennies Individual coins He picked up three pennies.
American English (amount) pennies (colloquial, rarely used for amounts) It cost fifty pennies (uncommon; “cents” is used instead).
British English (coins) pennies Individual coins She has old pennies in her collection.
British English (amount) pence Amount of money The item is thirty pence.
Idiomatic pennies Figurative, idiomatic He put in his two pennies worth.
Literary/Historical pence Obsolete/archaism He paid a hundred pence.

More examples:

  • US: “Do you need more pennies?”
  • UK: “It costs ninety pence.”
  • UK: “She gave me two old pennies.”
  • Idiom: “Every penny counts.”
  • Historical: “A loaf of bread was five pence in 1600.”
  • Non-currency: “He dropped three pennies of advice.”
  • US: “My piggy bank is full of pennies.”
  • UK: “The total is one hundred pence.”
  • UK: “Can you give me two pennies for the trolley?”
  • Idiom: “Put your two pennies in.”
  • Literary: “He paid twenty pence for a night’s lodging.”
  • Obsolete: “He owed four pennys.” (archaic spelling)
  • US: “I got five pennies as change.”
  • UK: “It’s not worth a few pence.”

6. Examples Section

6.1 Basic Pluralization Examples

  • I have two pennies.
  • She found some pence in her purse.
  • He picked up five pennies from the floor.
  • The price is twenty pence.

6.2 Examples by Context

  • Financial: The total is 47 pence.
  • Physical coins: There are three pennies on the table.
  • Collection: She collects rare pennies from the 19th century.
  • Shopping: The apple costs 25 pence.
  • Savings: The jar is filled with pennies.

6.3 Examples in Idioms and Expressions

  • A penny for your thoughts.
  • Don’t be penny-wise, pound-foolish.
  • He gave his two pennies worth.
  • She had to spend a penny before the trip. (UK: visit the restroom)
  • Every penny counts.

6.4 Examples from Literature and Newspapers

  • “He paid six pence for the bread.”
  • “She counted out her pennies for the bus fare.”
  • “Not a penny more, not a penny less.” – Jeffrey Archer
  • “A few stray pennies rolled across the floor.” – The Guardian
  • “The old beggar asked for a few pence.” – Charles Dickens

6.5 Complex Sentences and Advanced Usage

  • Although she only had a few pennies left, she donated them to charity.
  • He wondered aloud, “How many pence would it take to buy this?”
  • If you save all your pennies, you’ll have a fortune in no time.
  • She asked whether fifty pence would be enough for a sandwich.
  • After counting the pennies, he reported that there were exactly one hundred and twenty-three.
  • They explained that, in Britain, the price would be listed as “eighty pence” rather than “eighty pennies.”
  • “Give me your two pennies worth,” he said, inviting her opinion.
  • He told me that all the pennies he had found were from the same year.
  • She wondered if the collection was worth a few pence or a small fortune.
  • “How many pennies did you find?” she asked, already guessing the answer.

6.6 Example Tables

Table 1: Pennies vs. Pence in Sentences
# Pennies Example Pence Example
1 I found five pennies under the couch. The ticket costs eighty pence.
2 He collects rare pennies. She paid fifty pence for the book.
3 There are two pennies on the shelf. The sandwich is thirty pence.
4 She counted out her pennies. It cost just a few pence.
5 He dropped three pennies in the fountain. The difference is ten pence.
6 My wallet is full of pennies. The total is seventy-five pence.
7 She gave me two shiny pennies. He earned twenty pence from his chores.
8 The bank gave me a roll of pennies. Can you lend me some pence?
9 He keeps old pennies in a box. The fine was five pence.
10 She has a collection of foreign pennies. The item is worth two pence.
Table 2: Usage in American vs. British English
Context US English British English Explanation
Amount fifty cents fifty pence US uses “cents”; UK uses “pence” for sums of money.
Coins ten pennies ten pennies Both use “pennies” for actual coins.
Idiomatic a penny for your thoughts a penny for your thoughts Idioms are similar in both varieties.
Obsolete/Archaic – twenty pence (coins or amounts) “Pence” is not used in modern US English.
Table 3: Plural Forms in Contexts
Context Correct Plural Example
Coins in a jar pennies The jar is full of pennies.
Price on label (UK) pence The item costs fifty pence.
Financial statement (US) cents The balance is twenty-five cents.
Old coin collection (UK) pennies She collects Victorian pennies.
Figurative (idiom) pennies He gave his two pennies worth.
Table 4: Comparative Table with Other Currency Plurals
Currency Singular Plural Notes
US Dollar cent cents Regular plural
UK Pound penny pence Irregular plural for amount
Euro cent cents Regular plural
Israeli Shekel agora agorot Irregular plural (Hebrew origin)
Japanese Yen yen yen Same for singular and plural
Table 5: Error Correction Examples
Error Incorrect Example Corrected Sentence Explanation
Plural form I have five pennys. I have five pennies. Correct spelling is “pennies.”
Plural type It costs fifty pennies. It costs fifty pence. Use “pence” for sums in UK English.
Wrong region The price is ten pence. (US) The price is ten cents. Use “cents” in US, not “pence.”
Overgeneralization He has many pennys. He has many pennies. Change “y” to “ies.”
Context error She dropped five pence. She dropped five pennies. Use “pennies” for individual coins.

7. Usage Rules

7.1 Rule: Use “Pennies” for Individual Coins

  • When referring to separate, countable coins, use “pennies.”
  • Examples:
    • He gave me three pennies.
    • The jar is full of pennies.

7.2 Rule: Use “Pence” for Amounts of Money (UK)

  • In British English, use “pence” for sums of money.
  • Examples:
    • The price is twenty pence.
    • He paid one hundred pence for the ticket.

7.3 Rule: Use “Pennies” in American English

  • In US English, use “pennies” for both coins and, rarely, for amounts (but “cents” is more common for amounts).
  • Examples:
    • I have fifty pennies.
    • The cost is twenty-five cents (not “pence”).

7.4 Exceptions and Special Cases

  • Idioms always use “penny” or “pennies”: “A penny for your thoughts.”
  • Never use “pence” in American English.
  • Currency names: “pence” for British amounts, “cents” for American amounts.
  • Some UK phrases, like “a two-penny piece,” refer to specific coins.

7.5 Table of Usage Rules

Scenario Preferred Plural Example Sentence Common Mistake
Counting coins (US) pennies I have ten pennies. I have ten pence.
Amount (UK) pence The price is seventy pence. The price is seventy pennies.
Individual coins (UK) pennies I found three old pennies. I found three old pence.
Amount (US) cents The fee is fifty cents. The fee is fifty pence.
Idiomatic use penny/pennies He put in his two pennies worth. He put in his two pence worth.

7.6 Pronunciation Differences

  • Penny: /ˈpɛni/ (PEN-ee)
  • Pennies: /ˈpɛniz/ (PEN-eez)
  • Pence: /pɛns/ (PENS)

Tip: “Pennies” has a final “-eez” sound, while “pence” rhymes with “fence.”

8. Common Mistakes

8.1 Confusing “Pennies” and “Pence”

Many learners use “pennies” and “pence” interchangeably. Remember:

  • “Pennies” = individual coins
  • “Pence” = amount of money (UK)

Incorrect: “The item costs fifty pennies.”
Correct: “The item costs fifty pence.”

8.2 Using “Pence” in American English

In the US, “pence” is not used. The correct plural is “pennies” (for coins) or “cents” (for amounts).

Incorrect: “The price is ten pence.”
Correct: “The price is ten cents.”

8.3 Incorrect Spelling or Formation

  • Incorrect: pennys, pennyes
  • Correct: pennies

8.4 Overgeneralization of Plural Rules

  • Applying the regular “-s” plural: “pennys” is incorrect.
  • For nouns ending in consonant + y, remember to change “y” to “ies.”

8.5 Table: Correct vs. Incorrect Usage

Error Incorrect Example Corrected Sentence Explanation
Plural spelling I have six pennys. I have six pennies. Spelling: “y” changes to “ies.”
Wrong plural The price is ten pennies. The price is ten pence. Use “pence” for amounts in UK.
Context mix-up She collected rare pence. She collected rare pennies. “Pence” is not used for coins.
Incorrect region It costs five pence. (US) It costs five cents. Use “cents” in US English.
Overgeneralization He has many pennys. He has many pennies. Follow regular pluralization rule.
Figurative language He gave his two pence worth. He gave his two pennies worth. Idioms use “penny/pennies.”
Pronunciation I have three pennys (/ˈpɛnɪs/). I have three pennies (/ˈpɛniz/). Correct spelling and pronunciation.

Additional error examples:

  • Incorrect: He found two pence on the ground.
    Correct: He found two pennies on the ground.
  • Incorrect: She paid with five pennys.
    Correct: She paid with five pennies.
  • Incorrect: The total is thirty pennies. (UK)
    Correct: The total is thirty pence.
  • Incorrect: The item is worth ten pence. (US)
    Correct: The item is worth ten cents.
  • Incorrect: I have four pennyes.
    Correct: I have four pennies.

9. Practice Exercises

9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises

  1. There are three ______ in my pocket.
  2. The ticket costs fifty ______.
  3. He gave me two shiny ______.
  4. The total is seventy ______.
  5. She collected old ______ from the Victorian era.
  6. Can you lend me ten ______?
  7. My wallet is full of ______.
  8. The price tag says twenty ______.
  9. He dropped five ______ on the floor.
  10. The sandwich is thirty-five ______.

9.2 Error Correction Exercises

  1. I have five pennys.
  2. The cost is twenty pennies. (UK)
  3. She found three pence on the path. (US)
  4. He gave his two pence worth of advice.
  5. There are many rare pence in the collection.
  6. The price is fifteen pence. (US)
  7. She put several pennyes in the jar.
  8. He dropped two pence by the door. (US)

9.3 Identification Practice

Write “pennies” or “pence” as appropriate:

  1. I have fifty ______ in my jar. (US)
  2. The item is thirty ______. (UK, price)
  3. She found some old ______ in the attic. (coins, UK)
  4. The total is eighty ______. (UK, sum)
  5. He dropped five ______ on the ground. (coins, US)
  6. The bus fare is sixty ______. (UK)
  7. She paid with ten ______. (coins, UK)
  8. The toy costs five ______. (UK, price)
  9. My collection includes rare ______. (coins, UK)
  10. The difference is twelve ______. (UK, amount)

9.4 Sentence Construction Tasks

Write 5 sentences using “pennies” and 5 using “pence.”

9.5 Table-Based Matching Exercise

Match the Context to the Correct Plural and Example
Context Correct Plural Example Sentence
Amount of money (UK) The price is fifty ______.
Coins in pocket (US) I have three ______ in my pocket.
Old coins collection (UK) She collects Victorian ______.
Sum written on receipt (UK) The total is seventy ______.
Figurative/idiom (both) He put in his two ______ worth.

9.6 Answer Key

Fill-in-the-Blank Answers:

  1. pennies
  2. pence
  3. pennies
  4. pence
  5. pennies
  6. pence
  7. pennies
  8. pence
  9. pennies
  10. pence

Error Correction:

  1. I have five pennies.
  2. The cost is twenty pence.
  3. She found three pennies on the path.
  4. He gave his two pennies worth of advice.
  5. There are many rare pennies in the collection.
  6. The price is fifteen cents.
  7. She put several pennies in the jar.
  8. He dropped two pennies by the door.

Identification Practice:

  1. pennies
  2. pence
  3. pennies
  4. pence
  5. pennies
  6. pence
  7. pennies
  8. pence
  9. pennies
  10. pence

Sentence Construction (sample answers):

  • I found five pennies on the ground.
  • The jar is filled with shiny pennies.
  • He gave me two old pennies.
  • She collected rare pennies from different years.
  • The bank gave us a roll of pennies.
  • The ticket costs sixty pence.
  • He paid twenty pence for the stamp.
  • The total is ninety pence.
  • The fine was five pence.
  • She received only two pence in change.

Table-Based Matching Exercise Answers:

Context Correct Plural Example Sentence
Amount of money (UK) pence The price is fifty pence.
Coins in pocket (US) pennies I have three pennies in my pocket.
Old coins collection (UK) pennies She collects Victorian pennies.
Sum written on receipt (UK) pence The total is seventy pence.
Figurative/idiom (both) pennies He put in his two pennies worth.

10. Advanced Topics

10.1 Etymology and Historical Evolution

“Penny” comes from Old English penig or penning, itself from Germanic roots. The plural “pence” developed under the influence of Old French and Latin, while “pennies” followed regular English pluralization patterns. Over centuries, “pence” became standard for sums, while “pennies” remained for individual coins.

10.2 “Penny” in Idiomatic and Figurative Language

  • “A penny for your thoughts” – inviting someone to share their opinion.
  • “Penny-wise, pound-foolish” – careful with small amounts but wasteful with large sums.
  • “Spend a penny” – (UK) to use the restroom.
  • “A bad penny always turns up” – unwelcome people or things tend to appear repeatedly.

10.3 Comparative Pluralization in World Englishes

  • Japanese Yen: “yen” for both singular and plural.
  • Euro: “euro” (singular), “euros” (plural).
  • Israeli Shekel: “shekel” (singular), “shekels” (plural).
  • German Pfennig: “Pfennig” (singular), “Pfennige” (plural).

In legal and financial texts, it is important to use “pence” for sums in UK contexts: “The amount payable is one hundred pence.” In US documents, “cents” and “pennies” are used as appropriate.

10.5 Pluralization in Literature and Creative Writing

Authors may choose “pennies” or “pence” for stylistic or historical effect. In historical novels, “pence” lends authenticity, while “pennies” may be used to evoke nostalgia or focus on individual coins.

10.6 Table: Cross-Linguistic Comparison

Table: Currency Plurals Across Languages
Language Currency (Singular) Currency (Plural) English Equivalent Example
English (UK) penny pence / pennies pence = sum; pennies = coins Fifty pence; five pennies
German Pfennig Pfennige penny/pennies Fünf Pfennige
French centime centimes cent/cents Dix centimes
Japanese yen yen yen Go yen (five yen)
Hebrew agora agorot agora/agoras Esser agorot (ten agorot)

Advanced usage examples:

  • Legal: “The plaintiff is entitled to damages of one hundred pence.”
  • Financial: “Amounts less than one penny shall be disregarded.”
  • Literary: “He paid her a few pence for her troubles.”
  • Historical: “The value was set at twelve pence to a shilling.”
  • Comparative: “In Japan, five yen buys a sweet; in England, five pence does.”
  • Creative: “She scattered her pennies across the wishing well, hoping for luck.”
  • Idiomatic: “He felt his opinion was worth more than two pennies.”
  • Cross-linguistic: “The German Pfennig and the British penny once had similar roles.”
  • Business: “All transactions under one pence will be rounded up.”
  • Poetry: “Not a penny to my name, but hope remains.”

11. FAQ Section

  1. What is the correct plural of “penny” in American English?
    The correct plural is “pennies”. Example: “I have ten pennies in my pocket.”
  2. When should I use “pence” instead of “pennies”?
    Use “pence” for amounts of money in the UK. Example: “The price is fifty pence.”
  3. Can “pence” be used in American English?
    No, “pence” is not used in American English. For amounts, use “cents”; for coins, use “pennies.”
  4. Why does “penny” have two plural forms?
    Historical usage led to “pence” (for sums) and “pennies” (for coins). This reflects both linguistic evolution and practical distinction.
  5. How do I pronounce “pence” and “pennies”?
    Pence: /pɛns/ (rhymes with “fence”)
    Pennies: /ˈpɛniz/ (PEN-eez)
  6. Are there other English nouns with two plural forms?
    Yes, e.g., “brother” (brothers/brethren), “die” (dies/dice), “cow” (cows/kine – now archaic).
  7. Is there a difference between “five pence” and “five pennies”?
    Yes. “Five pence” means an amount of money; “five pennies” means five individual coins.
  8. How do I use “pennies” and “pence” in idioms?
    Idioms use “penny” or “pennies”: “A penny for your thoughts,” “He put in his two pennies worth.”
  9. Can I use “pennies” to refer to money in general?
    In American English, “pennies” can sometimes refer to small sums, but “cents” is more common for amounts. In British English, use “pence” for amounts.
  10. What are common mistakes with the plural of “penny”?
    Using “pennys” instead of “pennies,” using “pence” in American English, or using “pennies” for amounts in UK English.
  11. How do I write about pennies/pence in formal writing?
    Use “pence” for British amounts, “pennies” for coins (both regions), and “cents” for US amounts. Be precise with context.
  12. What is the origin of “pence” as a plural form?
    “Pence” comes from Old English “peningas” (plural of “penig”). Over time, “pence” became standard for sums of money.

12. Conclusion

The noun “penny” has two plural forms: “pennies” for individual coins and “pence” for amounts of money in British English. Understanding this distinction is crucial for clear, accurate communication, especially in financial, educational, and cross-cultural contexts.

Remember: “pennies” is standard in American English for coins, while “pence” is used in British English for sums. Idioms and expressions often use “penny” or “pennies.” By mastering these rules and practicing with examples and exercises, you can confidently use the correct plural in any context.

When in doubt, revisit the rules, examples, and tables in this guide. Keep practicing, and soon the plural of “penny” will be second nature in your English writing and speech!

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