Forming the Plural of Nouns

Forming the Plural of Nouns

Open Ended

What could happen if you don't use the correct number of ingredients in a recipe?

Nouns ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -ss, -x, or -z form their plural by adding - es

watch - watches

buzz - buzzes​

Most nouns form their plural by adding -s

napkin - napkins

table - tables

plate - plates​

Plural of Nouns

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "tree"?

• trees

• treeses

• forest

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "glass"

• glass's

• glasses

• glass

Nouns ending in consonant + y; change y to i + -es

candy - candies

city - cities

library - libraries

Nouns ending in a vowel + y; just add -s

tray - trays

journey - journeys

valley - valleys​

Plural of Nouns

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "key"?

• keys

• keyes

• keies

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "family"?

• familys

• families

• family

Nouns ending in -o; add -es*

potato - potatoes

tomato - tomatoes

echo - echoes​

Nouns ending in f; change f to v + es*

wife - wives

leaf - leaves

shelf - shelves​

Plural of Nouns

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "knife"?

• knifes

• knifeses

• knives

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "scarf"?

• scarfs

• scarfses

• scarves

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "hero"?

• heros

• heroes

• hero's

Words in Latin or Greek follow their original plural form.

radius - radii

alumnus - alumni

bacterium - bacteria​

Some nouns form their plural by changing the spelling. (Irregular)

woman - women

tooth - teeth​

child - children​

Plural of Nouns

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "mouse"?

• mouses

• mouse's

• mice

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "ox"?

• oxes

• ox's

• oxen

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "datum"?

• datums

• datum's

• data

Some nouns end in -s but are singular in meaning.

mathematics

athletics

politics

news​

Nouns that usually come in pairs are always plural*.

socks

stockings

earrings

jeans​

Plural of Nouns

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "tongs"?

• tongs

• tongses

• tong

Multiple Choice

What is the plural of "mumps"?

• mumps

• mumpses

• no answer

Some mass nouns need counters to indicate amount.

carts of baggage

drops of blood

slices of bread

trucks of furniture​

Mass nouns (non-count) are always singular.

work

music

jewelry

furniture​

Plural of Nouns

There are some exceptions

basketful - basketfuls

head of department - heads of department

woman driver - women drivers​

Compound nouns; add -s to the main word

mother-in-law - mothers-in-law

officer-in-charge - officers-in-charge

trade union - trade unions​

Plural of Nouns

Small letters; add apostrophe (') + s

b's

p's

f's​

Numbers and capital letters; add -s only

Bs

Ps

4s​

Plural of Nouns