Saturday 12 November 2011

English Grammar Rules - 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 SS, SH, CH or X, we add -ES to the noun.
SingularPlural
kisskisses
wishwishes
matchmatches
boxboxes
foxfoxes
  • I have a box in my bedroom.
  • I have three boxes in my bedroom.

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

5. If the noun ends in IS, we change it to ES.
SingularPlural
analysisanalyses
basisbases
crisiscrises

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.

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