Explanation of Plurals
in English
In English, we usually make a noun plural by adding -s or -es at the end of the word. However, there are a few rules to remember.
Here are the main ones:
1. Regular Plurals: Add
"-s"
Most nouns simply take
an -s to form the plural.
Examples:
cat → cats
dog → dogs
book → books
chair → chairs
apple → apples
car → cars
house → houses
pen → pens
hat → hats
tree → trees
2. Add "-es" for Nouns Ending in
"-s," "-sh," "-ch," "-x," or "-z"
When a noun ends in
these sounds, we add -es to make it plural.
Examples:
bus → buses
brush → brushes
match → matches
box → boxes
quiz → quizzes
church → churches
dish → dishes
fox → foxes
glass → glasses
kiss → kisses
3. Change "-y" to "-ies" for Nouns Ending
in a Consonant +
"y"
If the word ends in a
consonant + "y," change the -y to -ies.
Examples:
baby → babies
lady → ladies
city → cities
story → stories
family → families
party → parties
penny → pennies
cherry → cherries
hobby → hobbies
candy → candies
4. Add "-s"
for Nouns Ending in a Vowel + "y"
If the word ends in a
vowel + "y," simply add -s.
Examples:
boy → boys
key → keys
day → days
toy → toys
monkey → monkeys
journey → journeys
play → plays
tray → trays
ray → rays
cowboy → cowboys
5. Change
"-f" or "-fe" to "-ves"
Some nouns ending in -f
or -fe change to -ves in the plural.
Examples:
leaf → leaves
wolf → wolves
knife → knives
life → lives
wife → wives
shelf → shelves
calf → calves
elf → elves
loaf → loaves
thief → thieves
6. Irregular Plurals
Some nouns have special
plural forms that do not follow regular rules.
Examples:
man → men
woman → women
child → children
foot → feet
tooth → teeth
mouse → mice
goose → geese
person → people
ox → oxen
louse → lice
cactus → cacti
focus → foci
criterion → criteria
phenomenon →
phenomena
bacterium → bacteria
nucleus → nuclei
thesis → theses
Irregular plurals are exceptions to the rules, so it
is important to memorise them. Regular practice can help you remember these
unusual forms!
7. Nouns That Stay the
Same in Singular and Plural
Some nouns do not
change in the plural form.
Examples:
sheep → sheep
fish → fish
deer → deer
species → species
aircraft → aircraft
moose → moose
salmon → salmon
series → series
means → means
shrimp → shrimp
8. Plural Forms of
Foreign Words
Some foreign words keep
their original plural forms.
Examples:
cactus → cacti
focus → foci
radius → radii
stimulus → stimuli
criterion → criteria
phenomenon → phenomena
analysis → analyses
thesis → theses
bacterium → bacteria
datum → data
