Singular and Plural Nouns
1. Introduction to Nouns
Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas. They form the basic building blocks of sentences.
In English, nouns come in singular (one item) or plural (more than one item) forms.
Using the correct form is essential for clear communication.
2. Regular Plural Nouns
A. Plurals by Adding –s
For most nouns, simply add -s.
- Book → Books
- Car → Cars
- Table → Tables
- Dog → Dogs
- Cat → Cats
- Pen → Pens
- House → Houses
- Flower → Flowers
- Computer → Computers
- Apple → Apples
- Phone → Phones
- Chair → Chairs
- Tree → Trees
- Key → Keys
- Shirt → Shirts
B. Plurals by Adding –es
For nouns ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add -es.
This extra syllable helps with pronunciation.
- Box → Boxes
- Bus → Buses
- Glass → Glasses
- Kiss → Kisses
- Dish → Dishes
- Church → Churches
- Watch → Watches
- Fox → Foxes
- Buzz → Buzzes
- Dress → Dresses
- Brush → Brushes
- Match → Matches
- Class → Classes
- Wish → Wishes
- Quiz → Quizzes
C. Nouns Ending in -y
If a noun ends in a consonant followed by -y, change -y to -ies.
- City → Cities
- Baby → Babies
- Party → Parties
- Country → Countries
- Story → Stories
- Lady → Ladies
- Family → Families
- Puppy → Puppies
- Diary → Diaries
- Mystery → Mysteries
- Hobby → Hobbies
- Factory → Factories
- Gallery → Galleries
- Fly → Flies
*Note: “Chalky” is more common as an adjective. Use only for noun contexts.
If a noun ends in a vowel followed by -y, just add -s.
- Boy → Boys
- Toy → Toys
- Day → Days
- Key → Keys
- Monkey → Monkeys
- Donkey → Donkeys
- Valley → Valleys
- Journey → Journeys
- Turkey → Turkeys
- Alley → Alleys
- Chimney → Chimneys
- Ray → Rays
- Play → Plays
3. Irregular Plural Nouns
Irregular plurals do not follow the standard rules of adding -s or -es.
These forms must be memorized.
- Child → Children
- Man → Men
- Woman → Women
- Mouse → Mice
- Goose → Geese
- Foot → Feet
- Tooth → Teeth
- Person → People
- Ox → Oxen
- Louse → Lice
- Die → Dice
4. More Special Cases and Exceptions
A. Nouns That Remain the Same
Some nouns have the same form in both singular and plural.
- Sheep → Sheep
- Deer → Deer
- Fish → Fish
- Series → Series
- Species → Species
- Means → Means
- Aircraft → Aircraft
- Salmon → Salmon
- Trout → Trout
- Bison → Bison
- Moose → Moose
- Offspring → Offspring
- Corps → Corps
- Shrimp → Shrimp
- Crossroads → Crossroads
B. Foreign or Classical Plurals
Some words from Latin or Greek have special plural forms.
- Analysis → Analyses
- Criterion → Criteria
- Phenomenon → Phenomena
- Datum → Data
- Memorandum → Memoranda
- Appendix → Appendices
- Index → Indices
- Oasis → Oases
- Thesis → Theses
- Axis → Axes
- Basis → Bases
- Stimulus → Stimuli
- Curriculum → Curricula
- Syllabus → Syllabi
- Medium → Media
C. Compound Nouns
In compound nouns, pluralize the main part.
- Mother-in-law → Mothers-in-law
- Father-in-law → Fathers-in-law
- Sister-in-law → Sisters-in-law
- Brother-in-law → Brothers-in-law
- Son-in-law → Sons-in-law
- Daughter-in-law → Daughters-in-law
- Passer-by → Passers-by
- Runner-up → Runners-up
- Editor-in-chief → Editors-in-chief
- Commander-in-chief → Commanders-in-chief
- Notary public → Notaries public
- Attorney general → Attorneys general
- Man-of-war → Men-of-war
- Jack-of-all-trades → Jacks-of-all-trades
- Court-martial → Courts-martial
FAQ
1. What is a noun?
A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea.
2. How do you form most plurals?
For most nouns, add -s. If they end in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add -es.
3. When do you change -y to -ies?
Change -y to -ies if a noun ends in a consonant followed by -y. If a noun ends in a vowel + y, just add -s.
4. What are irregular plurals?
Irregular plurals do not follow the standard rules and must be memorized.
5. Are there nouns with the same singular and plural forms?
Yes. Nouns like sheep, deer, and species remain the same.
6. How are compound nouns pluralized?
Generally, pluralize the primary word in the compound.
