The Easiest Topics: PLURAL NOUNS

Plural Nouns


In general the plural of a noun is formed by adding -S to the noun.
SingularPlural
carcars
househouses
bookbooks
birdbirds
pencilpencils

However:
1. When the noun ends in S, SH, CH, X or Z*, we add -ES to the noun.
SingularPlural
kisskisses
wishwishes
matchmatches
foxfoxes
quizquizzes*
  • I have a box in my bedroom.
  • I have three boxes in my bedroom.
* With words that end in Z sometimes we add an extra Z to the plural form of the word (such as with the plural of quiz).

2. When the noun ends in a VOWEL + Y, we add -S to the noun.
SingularPlural
boyboys
holidayholidays
keykeys
guyguys

3. When the noun ends in a CONSONANT + Y, we remove Y and add -IES to the noun.
SingularPlural
partyparties
ladyladies
storystories
nannynannies
citycities

4. If the noun ends in F or FE, we remove the F/FE and add -VES to the noun.
SingularPlural
lifelives
leafleaves
thiefthieves
wifewives
Some exceptions: roof - roofs, cliff - cliffs, chief - chiefs, belief - beliefs, chef - chefs

5. If the noun ends in a CONSONANT + O, we normally add -ES to the noun.
SingularPlural
tomatotomatoes
potatopotatoes
echoechoes
heroheroes
Some exceptions: piano - pianos, halo - halos, photo - photos
NOTE: Volcano has two correct forms of plural. Both volcanos and volcanoes are accepted.
6. There are a number of nouns that don't follow these rules. They are irregular and you need to learn them individually because they don't normally have an S on the end.
SingularPlural
manmen
womanwomen
childchildren
footfeet
toothteeth
goosegeese
mousemice
  • There is a child in the park.
  • There are many children in the park.

7. There are some nouns in English that are the same in the singular and the plural.
SingularPlural
fishfish
sheepsheep
deerdeer
moosemoose
aircraftaircraft
  • I can see a sheep in the field.
  • I can see ten sheep in the field.
Sometimes you will hear the word fishes (especially in songs) though it is grammatically incorrect.
8. If the noun ends in IS, we change it to ES. Words that end in IS usually have a Greek root.
SingularPlural
analysisanalyses
basisbases
crisiscrises

9. If the noun ends in US, we change it to I. Words that end in US usually have a Latin root.
SingularPlural
cactuscacti
fungusfungi
stimulusstimuli
syllabussyllabi
Some exceptions: octupus - octupuses (because it is from Greek, not Latin), walrus - walruses
If you want to find out more, just visit this website http://www.grammar.cl/Notes/Plural_Nouns.htm

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