ENGLISH PLURALS

The plural form of Nouns that end in -ch, Most nouns ending in Nouns ending in a
most nouns is created -x, -s, -sh, zz or s-like -o preceded by a consonant + y, drop
simply by adding the sounds, the plural is consonant also form the y and add 'ies'.
letter 's' to the end of formed by adding 'es' their plurals by adding lady – ladies
the word . to the end of the word. 'es' . party - parties
hour –hours watch – watches potato – potatoes
tree – trees box – boxes volcano – volcanoes
noun - nouns gas – gases However many newly
brush – brushes created words and
Nouns that end in a words with a Spanish
single -z, the plural is or Italian origin that
formed by adding 'zes' end in -o just add an
to the end of the word. 's'.
quiz - quizzes piano – pianos
photo - photos
Uncountable nouns
Most nouns ending
There are many on the other hand
in -f or -fe, drop the f Some nouns have
common nouns that have no plural form
and add 'ves'. identical plural and
have irregular plurals. and take a singular
wolf – wolves singular forms,
man - men verb (is / was ...).
wife – wives although they are still
woman - women advice
child - children considered to have a money
Most words ending plural form.
mouse - mice information
in -is, drop the -is sheep – sheep
tooth - teeth traffic
and add -es. fish – fish
goose - geese news
crisis – crises aircraft - aircraft
foot - feet sugar
oasis - oases
ox – oxen
person - people

Some nouns Nouns that stem from In compound nouns

(especially those
associated with two
things) exist only in
the plural form and
take a plural verb
(are / were...).
cattle
scissors
trousers
tweezers |
congratulations |
older forms of English
or are of foreign origin
often have odd plurals.
index - indices or
indexes
phenomenon –
phenomena
antenna - antennae –
antennas
cactus – cacti -
cactuses
the plural ending is
usually added to the
main noun.
passer-by - passers-by
mother-in-law –
mothers-in-law
fireman – firemen
attorney general -
attorneys general
 Exercises:
1. Write the plural of each of these nouns:
dress - …………………………… brush - …………………………..  touch -
………………………………………..
wish - ……………………………. class - …………………........... sketch -
………………………………………..
fox - ……………………………… cross - ……………………………. star -
……………………………………………
bench - ………………………… bush - ………………………………..city -
……………………………............
ax - …………………………….. grass - ………………………………. cherry -
………………………………………
mantis - ………………………. buzz - ………………………………. essay -
………………………………………..
box- ……………………………..dish - ………………………………… baby -
………………………………………….
church - ……………………………..boy - …………………………………. story -
…………………………………….
 volley - ………………………….. chimney - ………………………………. day -
……………………………………
cargo - ……………………………..mosquito - ……………………………….hero -
……………………………………
canto - ………………………………. solo - ……………………………….. piano -
……………………………………..
leaf - …………………………………. life - …………………………………..  loaf -
……………………………………….
 shelf - ………………………………. half- …………………………………...chief -
…………………………………….
 roof - ………………………………….. belief - ………………………………..

2. Tell if the following nouns are singular or plural:

 box - ……………………. cats - ………………………..slipper - …………………….. 
forks - ……………………. books - ……………………. chair - ……………………………………
desk - ……………………. houses - …………………… paper - ………………………
 wagon - ………………….. lamps - …………………….  shoes - ……………………..
 garden - ………………….. horses - …………………… dress - ……………………….
 dog - ……………………… carts - ……………………..  kitchen -……………………
 pony - ……………………. glass - ……………………………….

3. Write the singular of the following nouns:

 bells …………………………. churches ………………………..  wagons
……………………………. 
coals …………………………. pictures …………………………  clocks
……………………………..
 boxes ………………………… kitchens …………………………
basins…………………………………….
 chairs ………………………… days ……………………………..  houses ……………………………
 pencils ……………………….. trees …………………………...
tables…………………………………….

4. Turn the following sentences into singular:

a) Dogs are good friends to men.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) Fir trees grow in the mountains.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

c) Women do not watch football matches.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

d) Children usually change their teeth when they are six years old.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

e) These men have got new cars.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

f) Those geese are right next to the horses.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………