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Plurals show that there is more than one of something, and most nouns follow simple rules to add -s or -es. This guide covers the basic endings for regular plurals and highlights common irregular forms that change in more unpredictable ways.

Regular Plurals

Regular plurals follow straightforward patterns based on the ending sound of the singular noun. Most nouns simply add -s or -es to form the plural.

Nouns Ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, and -sh

Nouns that end with sounds like -s, -x, -z, -ch, and -sh add -es to make the plural. This extra syllable helps maintain the plural sound clearly.

	Singular	Plural
	bus	buses
	box	boxes
	buzz	buzzes
	watch	watches
	brush	brushes

Nouns Ending in -y

When a noun ends in a consonant plus -y, change the -y to -i and add -es. If the -y follows a vowel, just add -s.

	Singular	Plural
	baby	babies
	city	cities
	day	days
	key	keys

Nouns Ending in -f or -fe

Some nouns that end in -f or -fe change to -ves in the plural, though a few just add -s. This pattern is common with words related to animals, tools, and household items.

	Singular	Plural
	leaf	leaves
	wolf	wolves
	knife	knives
	roof	roofs
	chef	chefs

Irregular Plurals

Irregular plurals do not follow the normal rules and must be learned individually. These nouns change vowels, add different endings, or remain the same in both singular and plural forms.

Common Irregular Nouns

Some of the most common irregular nouns change their internal vowels or replace the ending entirely when they become plural. These appear frequently in everyday speech.

	Singular	Plural
	man	men
	woman	women
	child	children
	tooth	teeth
	foot	feet
	mouse	mice
	goose	geese

Nouns That Stay the Same

Certain nouns have identical singular and plural forms. These are often words for animals, objects, or collective things. You rely on context and articles to tell number.

	Singular	Plural
	deer	deer
	sheep	sheep
	fish	fish
	species	species
	aircraft	aircraft

Foreign Plurals

Some English nouns come from Latin, Greek, or other languages and keep their original plural endings. These are common in science, academia, and specialized vocabulary.

	Singular	Plural
	cactus	cacti
	nucleus	nuclei
	syllabus	syllabi
	analysis	analyses
	diagnosis	diagnoses
	criterion	criteria
	phenomenon	phenomena

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Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns refer to substances, qualities, or concepts that you do not divide into individual units. They usually do not have a plural form and are treated as singular.

	Uncountable Noun	Type
	water	substance
	air	substance
	rice	substance
	knowledge	quality
	information	quality
	music	concept
	advice	concept

Trying to add -s to uncountable nouns is a common mistake; instead, use quantifiers like some, much, or a piece of to measure them.

Summary

Most nouns form the plural by adding -s or -es according to the regular rules, while irregular nouns must be learned individually. Uncountable nouns do not change and stay singular. Paying attention to these patterns helps you talk clearly about one thing or many.