In English, most nouns form their plurals by adding -s or -es to the singular form. Regular plural formation is straightforward, but there are special rules for nouns ending in certain letters, and a few irregular nouns change form entirely in the plural. Knowing these patterns helps you use nouns correctly for one or more.
- Regular plurals: add -s (cat → cats, book → books)
- Add -es for nouns ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, -sh (bus → buses, box → boxes)
- Some endings change: -y → -ies (baby → babies), -f/-fe → -ves (leaf → leaves)
- Irregular plurals don’t follow patterns (child → children, mouse → mice)
Most English nouns form plurals by adding -s.
Nouns ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh get -es for the plural.
Regular Plural Nouns
The most common plural rule is simply adding -s to the singular noun.
| Singular | Plural | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| cat | cats | Add -s |
| dog | dogs | Add -s |
| book | books | Add -s |
- Used for most nouns referring to people, animals, things.
- Pronunciation of -s can be /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/ depending on the final sound.
For most regular nouns, just add -s.
Regular plurals get -s: dogs, cats, books.
Nouns Ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, -sh
For nouns that end in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh, add -es to form the plural. This makes pronunciation easier.
| Singular | Plural | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| bus | buses | Add -es |
| box | boxes | Add -es |
| watch | watches | Add -es |
| brush | brushes | Add -es |
| quiz | quizzes | Add -es |
- The plural ending sounds like /ɪz/.
For -sh, -ch, -s, -x, -z endings, add -es.
The correct plural is 'buses.'
Nouns Ending in -y
When a noun ends with a consonant followed by -y, change the -y to -ies for the plural.
| Singular | Plural | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| baby | babies | Change -y to -ies |
| party | parties | Change -y to -ies |
If the -y follows a vowel, just add -s:
| Singular | Plural | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| day | days | Just add -s |
| key | keys | Just add -s |
Change the 'y' to 'ies' for a consonant+y ending.
The correct plural is 'babies.'
Nouns Ending in -f or -fe
Some nouns ending in -f or -fe change to -ves in the plural:
| Singular | Plural | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | leaves | Change -f/-fe to -ves |
| wife | wives | Change -f/-fe to -ves |
Not all -f nouns follow this (e.g., roof → roofs).
Many -f/-fe nouns change to -ves.
Leaves and wives are correct; some -f/-fe nouns are irregular.
Irregular Plurals
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that must be memorized:
| Singular | Plural | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| child | children | Irregular plural |
| man | men | Vowel change |
| woman | women | Vowel change |
| mouse | mice | Irregular plural |
| tooth | teeth | Irregular plural |
Others remain the same in singular and plural:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| sheep | sheep |
| fish | fish |
Children, men, and mice are irregular plurals.
Correct plurals are children, teeth, women.
The plural of 'child' is 'children.'
Summary
- Most nouns: add -s (cat → cats)
- If ending -s, -x, -z, -ch, -sh: add -es (bus → buses)
- Nouns ending consonant + -y: change -y to -ies (baby → babies)
- Some -f/-fe → -ves (leaf → leaves)
- Irregular forms must be memorized (child → children, mouse → mice)