In English, plural forms show that there is more than one of something. Most nouns add -s or -es to become plural (e.g., cat → cats, box → boxes). There are also irregular plurals (e.g., child → children, mouse → mice). Plural rules vary depending on the ending of the word.
English nouns themselves usually don’t change form to show gender, but some words have separate masculine and feminine forms (e.g., actor/actress, waiter/waitress). Many modern English speakers and writers prefer gender-neutral terms like actor for both men and women, or server instead of waiter/waitress. Pronouns (he, she, they) are used to indicate gender in sentences, and they can be used as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun.
Plurals
Which nouns typically form their plural by adding -ves?
Nouns ending in -f or -fe.
Many nouns ending in -f or -fe change to -ves in plural, such as wolf → wolves and knife → knives.
Irregular Plurals
Gender
What pronoun can you use as a singular, gender-neutral option?
they.
They is used as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun to refer to someone without specifying gender.
Plurals
Plural nouns show that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
The most common way to make a plural is to add -s:
- cat → cats
- book → books
- car → cars
If a singular noun ends in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -z, add -es:
- bus → buses
- box → boxes
- brush → brushes
If the noun ends in a consonant + y, change y to i and add -es:
- baby → babies
- lady → ladies
If the noun ends in -f or -fe, sometimes change to -ves:
- wolf → wolves
- knife → knives
Some nouns have the same form in plural (usually animals or things):
- sheep → sheep
- deer → deer
Rule Summary
| Ending | Plural Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| (regular) | add -s | cat → cats, book → books |
| -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -z | add -es | bus → buses, box → boxes |
| consonant + y | change y → i + -es | baby → babies, lady → ladies |
| -f, -fe | change to -ves | wolf → wolves, knife → knives |
| (special cases) | same form | sheep → sheep, deer → deer |
Irregular Plurals
Some nouns do not follow the usual rules and must be memorized:
| Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| child | children | tooth | teeth |
| man | men | mouse | mice |
| woman | women | foot | feet |
| person | people | goose | geese |
| cactus | cacti | nucleus | nuclei |
Which nouns typically form their plural by adding -ves?
Nouns ending in -f or -fe.
Many nouns ending in -f or -fe change to -ves in plural, such as wolf → wolves and knife → knives.
Gender
English nouns for people sometimes show gender, but most nouns are neutral.
Gender-Specific Nouns
| Masculine | Feminine | Neutral/Modern |
|---|---|---|
| actor | actress | actor |
| waiter | waitress | server |
| prince | princess | royal |
| chairman | chairwoman | chairperson |
| host | hostess | host |
In many cases, the feminine form is made by adding -ess or -woman.
Gender-Neutral Language
Modern English increasingly uses gender-neutral nouns to avoid bias:
| Gendered | Gender-Neutral |
|---|---|
| policeman | police officer |
| fireman | firefighter |
| salesman | sales representative |
| mailman | mail carrier |
Pronouns and Gender
Pronouns reflect gender and number:
| Pronoun | Use |
|---|---|
| he | male singular |
| she | female singular |
| they | singular or plural, gender-neutral |
| we | plural (includes speaker) |
| you | singular or plural |
They* can be singular to refer to a person without specifying gender:
- Someone left their umbrella.
- If a student needs help, they should ask.
What pronoun can you use as a singular, gender-neutral option?
they.
They is used as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun to refer to someone without specifying gender.
Summary
- Plural formation: Most nouns add -s or -es, some change spelling, and some are irregular.
- Gender in nouns: English mostly uses gender-neutral nouns, but some have masculine and feminine forms.
- Pronouns: Use he, she, or they to reflect gender, with they serving as a singular, neutral option.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
