5 Regular Plural Nouns
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one of that noun (while a singular noun indicates that there is just one of the noun). Most plural forms are created by simply adding an -s or –es to the end of the singular word. For example, there’s one dog (singular), but three dogs (plural). However, English has both regular and irregular plural nouns. Regular plurals follow this rule (and other similar rules), but irregular plurals are, well, not regular and don’t follow a “standard” rule.
Let’s start with regular plurals: regular plural nouns use established patterns to indicate there is more than one of a thing.
Recognize nouns marked with plural form –s.
As was mentioned earlier, we add the plural suffix –s to most words:
- cat → cats
- bear → bears
- zebra → zebras
However, after sounds s, z, sh, ch, and j, we add the plural suffix –es:
- class → classes
- sash → sashes
- fox → foxes
Some words that end in z also double their ending consonant, like quizzes.
Practice
Do you know how to spell the plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| book | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | peach | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| chair | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | buzz | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| picture | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | watch | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
Show Answer
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| book | books | peach | peaches |
| chair | chairs | buzz | buzzes |
| picture | pictures | watch | watches |
After the letter o.
We also add the plural suffix –es to most words that end in o:
- potato → potatoes
- hero → heroes
- mosquito → mosquitoes
However, when the words have a foreign origin (e.g.,Latin, Greek, Spanish), we just add the plural suffix –s
- taco → tacos
- avocado → avocados
- maestro → maestros
Practice
What are the correct plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| solo | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | portfolio | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| veto | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | memo | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| echo | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | radio | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| avocado | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | zero | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| studio | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | potato | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
Show Answer
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| solo | solos | portfolio | portfolios |
| veto | vetoes | memo | memos |
| echo | echoes | radio | radios |
| avocado | avocados | zero | zeroes |
| studio | studios | potato | potatoes |
After –y and –f, –fe
When a word ends in y and there is a consonant before y, we change the y to i and add –es.
- sky → skies
- candy → candies
- lady → ladies
However, if the y follows another vowel, you simply add an –s.
- alloy → alloys
- donkey → donkeys
- day → days
Practice
What are the correct plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| supply | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | key | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| fly | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | play | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| ally | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | boy | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
Show Answer
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| supply | supplies | key | keys |
| flies | fries | play | plays |
| ally | allies | boy | boys |
When a word ends in –f or –fe, we change the f to v and add –es.
- leaf → leaves
- life → lives
- calf → calves
However, if there are two terminal fs or if you still pronounce the f in the plural, then you simply add an –s:
- cliff → cliffs
- chief → chiefs
- reef → reefs
Practice
What are the correct plurals for the following words?
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| wolf | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | self | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| sheaf | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | roof | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
| knife | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] | thief | [practice-area rows=”1″][/practice-area] |
Show Answer
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| wolf | wolves | self | selves |
| sheaf | sheaves | roof | roofs |
| knife | knives | thief | thieves |