SINGULAR
NOUN AND PLURAL NOUN
NOUN AND PLURAL NOUN
A singular
noun names one person, place, thing, or idea.
A plural noun names more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
noun names one person, place, thing, or idea.
A plural noun names more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Here are
seven rules for forming plural nouns:
seven rules for forming plural nouns:
1. To form the plural of most nouns,
just add – s.
just add – s.
Examples: cups desks hands
fossils
fossils
2. When the singular ends in s, sh, ch,
x, or z, add – es.
x, or z, add – es.
Examples: addresses churches foxes buzzes
3. When the singular ends in o, add –
s.
s.
Examples: stereos radios solos
Navajos
Navajos
Exceptions: For
the following nouns ending in o, add – es.
the following nouns ending in o, add – es.
Examples: echoes heroes
potatoes tomatoes
potatoes tomatoes
4. When the singular noun ends in y, with
a consonant before it, change the y to i and add – es.
a consonant before it, change the y to i and add – es.
Examples: butterfly – butterflies army – armies
5. For most nouns ending in f or fe,
add – s. For some nouns ending in f or
fe, however, change the f to v and add – es.
add – s. For some nouns ending in f or
fe, however, change the f to v and add – es.
Examples:
chief – chiefs calf – calves safe – safes Shelf
– shelves
– shelves
6. Some nouns are the same for both
singular and plural.
singular and plural.
Examples: deer sheep trout moose bass
7. Some nouns form their plurals in special ways.
Examples:
child – children man – men mouse – mice
Tooth – teeth goose – geese foot
– feet
– feet
Exercise: Write the plurals for each of the following nouns.
1. tooth: ________ 2.
box: _________ 3. woman: _____
box: _________ 3. woman: _____
4. auto: ________
5. hero: ________ 4. leaf:
________
5. hero: ________ 4. leaf:
________
5. thief: ________
