Plural Nouns: Rules and Examples

Plural Nouns: Rules and Examples

English plural nouns

In order to change a singular noun to its plural form in English, you usually add "s". For example, the plural of book is books. The plural of table is tables. These are regular plurals.

But there are many nouns which don't follow this rule. For example the plural of fish is fish. The plural of tooth is teeth. These are irregular plurals

Regular plurals

Form:

Add "s" to the noun:

Noun + S

While many plural nouns follow this rule, the spelling sometimes differ.

Spelling of plurals

The plural form of most nouns is created simply by adding the letter "s".

more than one snake = snakes

more than one girl = girls

more than one window = windows

Spelling of plurals

Nouns that end in -ch, x, s, z or s-like sounds, however, will require an es for the plural:

more than one witch = witches

more than one box = boxes

more than one gas = gases

more than one bus = buses

more than one kiss = kisses

Spelling of plurals

Nouns that end in a vowel + y take the letter s:

more than one boy = boys

more than one way = ways

Spelling of plurals

Nouns that end in a consonant + y drop the y and take ies:

more than one baby = babies

more than one lorry = lorries

Spelling of plurals

A lot of nouns that end in o take es in the plural:

more than one potato = potatoes

more than one hero = heroes

Some nouns ending in o break the above rule and get os in the plural form:

Other nouns ending in o get either os or oes i the plural forms:

Spelling of plurals

Plurals of nouns that end in f or fe usually change the f sound to a v sound and add s or -es.

more than one knife = knives

more than one leaf = leaves

more than one hoof = hooves

more than one life = lives

more than one self = selves

more than one elf = elves

Irregular plurals:

There are several nouns that have irregular plural forms.

Other irregular plural forms include the following:

Plurals formed in this way are sometimes called irregular plurals or mutated (or mutating) plurals.

more than one child = children

more than one woman = women

more than one man = men

more than one person = people

more than one goose = geese

more than one mouse = mice

more than one barracks = barracks

more than one deer = deer

Irregular plurals:

Some foreign nouns retain their plural. (Note that some of them adapted the s of the English plural form!)

Nouns ending in us get a, i or the s of the English plural:

Nouns ending in ex or ix get ices or get the s of the English plural:

Nouns ending in is becoming es in plural:

Nouns ending in -on becoming -a:

Nouns that are always singular:

A handful of nouns appear to be plural in form but take a singular verb:

The news is bad.

Gymnastics is fun to watch. Economics/mathematics/statistics is said to be difficult.

Nouns that are always singular:

Some nouns never take the s of the plural and are always singular:

your luggage / baggage is so heavy

I'd like to buy new furniture for the house

you can find more information in our website

Multiple Choice

Choose the incorrect response.

• person - people

• lady - ladies

• man - men

• photo - photoes

Multiple Choice

Which one is different?

• class

• match

• foot

• box

Multiple Choice

Choose the noun that is always singular.

• furniture

• knife

• baby

• tooth

Multiple Choice

Choose the irregular plural.

• wives

• mice

• shelves

• books

Multiple Choice

There were lots of _________ at the display. Pick the correct plural spelling of 'firework'.

A) fireworks

B) fireworkes

C) fireworkies

• A

• B

• C

Multiple Choice

She put lots of ______ on his card. Choose the correct plural spelling of 'kiss'.

A) kiss's

B) kisses

C) kissis

• A

• B

• C

Multiple Choice

Where are my car ________? What is the correct plural spelling of key?

A) keys

B) keyes

C) keyss

• A

• B

• C

Multiple Choice

She threw all of her ____ out of the pram. Choose the correct plural spelling of toy.

A) toyes

B) toys

C) toyse

• A

• B

• C

Multiple Choice

Choose the noun that is always singular.

• furniture

• knife

• baby

• tooth

Fill in the Blank

There were two _______ of bread baking in the oven. Pick the correct plural spelling of loaf.

A) loafs

B) loaves

C) loafes

Fill in the Blank

Several ________ were in the cage at the zoo. What is the correct plural spelling of monkey?

A) monkies

B) monkeyes

C) monkeys

Fill in the Blank

They went to three different _________ before they found the wedding. Choose the correct plural spelling of church.

A) churchs

B) churchies

C) churches

Fill in the Blank

We visited four _________ before we found the right one. Choose the correct plural spelling for nursery.

A) nurserys

B) nurserees

C) nurseryes

D) nurseries

Fill in the Blank

She had many different coloured _____ to choose from. Pick the correct plural spelling of lens.

A) lens

B) lenses

C) lensies

D) lensses