Number: singular and plural
Form regular and irregular plurals of nouns.
Nouns also change to show how many we mean. This lesson covers the main rules for turning one into many, plus the common exceptions.
Number shows whether a noun means one (singular) or more than one (plural).
Examples
- Two buses were late today.
- The babies are asleep.
- Autumn leaves covered the path.
- Three women ran the stall.
- Both sons-in-law came for Pongal.
How it works
Add -s or -es
Most nouns simply add -s. Nouns ending in s, ss, x, sh or ch add -es, and many ending in consonant + o do too.
dish → dishes, potato → potatoes
Words ending in y
After a consonant, change y to -ies. After a vowel, just add -s.
city → cities, but key → keys
Words ending in f or fe
Many change to -ves, but some just add -s. Learn the common ones.
wolf → wolves, but roof → roofs
Irregular and unchanging plurals
Some nouns change their vowels or add -en; some stay the same. In compound nouns, pluralise the main word.
foot → feet, deer → deer
Quick reference
| Rule | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| add -s | chair | chairs |
| s, x, sh, ch → add -es | watch | watches |
| consonant + y → -ies | story | stories |
| vowel + y → add -s | toy | toys |
| f / fe → -ves | half | halves |
| vowel change | tooth | teeth |
| -en ending | ox | oxen |
| main word in compound | passer-by | passers-by |
Common mistakes
✕The farmer has many sheeps.
✓The farmer has many sheep.
Sheep does not change in the plural.
✕She bought two dozens eggs.
✓She bought two dozen eggs.
After a number, dozen stays singular.
✕All the monkies ran away.
✓All the monkeys ran away.
Vowel + y just adds -s.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Tap the plural noun.
The child lost two pencils.
✓pencils.
Pencils means more than one pencil.
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