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Singular and Plural Nouns (15 Rules, 50 Examples & Worksheet)

What is singular noun.

The singular nouns are words that only refer to one person or thing. They can be used as a subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, or appositive.

For example: “I went to the store. ” This sentence is about the speaker and their experience at the store. It’s also possible for a singular noun to be an appositive such as in this sentence: “Tina was wearing her best dress.”

Here, Tina is being described by what she was wearing which is called an appositive.

What is plural noun?

Plural nouns are words that refer to more than one person, place or thing. They are often used in sentences where we want to talk about a group of people, animals, or things.

Let’s take the sentence “I am teaching a class this semester.” We can change it around and say “The students have been working hard all semester long.” In the first sentence, “class” is singular and in the second sentence, “students” is plural. That means you need to use a proper noun (singular or plural) according to the situation.

It may not seem like much of a difference at first but it will make your writing sound awkward if you don’t get it right! The best way is to learn the rules of plural nouns.

Plural Noun Rules

We’ll break down the rules so you’ll never get your plural nouns wrong again.

We add ‘-s’ to the end of regular nouns to make them plurals. For examples,

In some cases, we add suffix “-es” to the nouns ending in “o”. See examples below.

In some Latin or Greek words (foreign words) ending in “-o”, we add suffix ‘-s’. For example,

When singular noun ends in ‘-us’, we replace ‘-us’ with ‘-i’. Examples are,

In singular noun ending on ‘-y’ (when the letter before -y is vowel ), we add ‘-s’ to the end to make the noun plural, for example,

In singular noun ending on ‘-y’ (when the letter before -y is consonant ), we replace ‘-y’ with ‘-ies’ to make the noun plural, for example

In some cases, the singular nouns ending in ‘-s’ or ‘-z’, the last letter is doubled plus we add ‘-es’ to the end. See the examples,

In many cases, the singular noun ending in ‘-f’ or ‘-fe’, we replace the ‘-f’ or ‘-fe’ with ‘-ves’. For example,

There are some exceptions where the rule does not apply, Examples are roof -> roofs , belief -> beliefs , cliff -> cliffs

In case the noun ends in ‘-on’, we replace ‘-on’ with ‘-a’ to make it plural, for example

In case the singular noun is ending in ‘-is’, to make the noun plural, ‘-is’ is replaced with ‘-es’. For examples

If the nouns ends in ‘-um’, last letters ‘-um’ are replaced with ‘-a’ in plural form. Examples are

In some case, the singular noun is ending in ‘-ex’ or ‘-ix’, the plural will end in ‘-ices’ Examples are given below:

There are several singular nouns which do not follow any of the above rules while making them plural

Many nouns have the same singular and plural form. Fro example, plural nouns for sheep is ‘sheep’ . See some more examples.

Some nouns do not have plural forms. Examples are

Types of Plurals

A lot of people don’t know about the types of plural nouns, but it’s important to understand that there are three types of plurals:-

Regular Plurals

Irregular plurals.

Compound Words

The plural noun rule is one of those things that can trip you up when you’re writing sentences

Regular plurals end in s or es. For example, bag -> bags , toy -> toys , pen -> pens etc.

Irregular plurals have a different spelling for their endings than they do for singulars. For example ox -> oxen , goose -> geese etc.

Compound Plurals

Compound words are made up of two words put together to make one word. For example, “bookcase” is a compound word with two parts – book and case . To form the plural form of this word, we would simply add an ‘s’ at the end (bookcases) .

It’s easy to remember these rules if you think about them like this – just add an ‘es’ for regular plurals and an ‘s’ for irregular ones!

You can read here further: Regular and Irregular Nouns Rules with Examples

Singular Noun Example Sentences

Fungus is vicious for human health.
I need a knife to cut the apple.
There is only one chair in the hall.
Runabout is the most popular boat in the United States.
Tom has been driving the same car for the last ten years.
Do you think life is so easy?
I love to eat continental food.
Tina bought a new house in a colony near the forest.
My room is spacious and well furnished.
The chef baked a pie cake for the guests.
Do you have a camera to record the action?
The cat is sitting on the roof.
I avoid junk food because it is unhealthy.
They booked a table in the restaurant.
The baby is crying with hunger.
Do you still listen to radio programs?
The rug was so dirty that I had to vacuum it.
I can’t believe you left your clothes on the floor !
You’re going to have to clean up after yourself if you want dinner tonight.
In this game, players are given a singular noun and must use it in a sentence.
It’s time to go home now, so I’ll see you later!
The most common type of security system is a door alarm that will sound when someone opens your front door .
I’m going to a party this weekend.
Who is watching television ?
Our school was founded by a man named John Smith who wanted to create a safe space for children and teenagers who were bullied at their old schools.

Plural Nouns Example Sentences

The plural noun example sentences are often used when you want to refer to a group of people or things.

Fungi are vicious for human health.
There are fifty chairs in the hall.
I avoid oily and high-calorie foods .
Pakistan is the largest exporters of footballs all over the world.
Jackson has a great collection of coins and stamps .
All the friends agreed to spend a day in the jungle camp.
There are many ways to whiten teeth naturally.
A fleet of boats was sailing in the river.
There are 195 countries in the world.
Men and women are born with 12 pairs of ribs.
She cut the pizza into equal halves .
How many subjects have you completed in this syllabus?
The costs of the new house are high.
It’s important that you know what the words mean and when they can be used.
The pencils are sharpened.
The students have their assignments due tomorrow.
I think both the computers need to be fixed.
There is a lot of food for everyone to eat.
We’ve been waiting on you guys forever!
As a result of the recent increase in crime rates, many people are opting to buy home security systems.
These alarms can be easily installed on existing doors with just a few screws and some wiring.
You don’t need any special tools or equipment – all you’ll need is an electric drill and some patience.
There are three cats in the yard.
How many people work for your company?
A group of students is waiting at the bus stop 30 minutes before school starts.

Worksheet for Singular and Plural Nouns

Following is a worksheet for singular and plural nouns. Answers are given at the end. Mention against each sentence whether highlighted/bold word is a singular or plural noun.

This is my favorite pizza topping because they give me one every time I order one. (singular/plural)
The sun is shining. (singular/plural)
My mom’s favorite color is red. (singular/plural)
A house has four walls, a roof , and a door . (singular/plural)
Cars are typically rectangular in shape with sharp corners and flat surfaces. (singular/plural)
A dog has fur on its back legs to keep it warm during winter months. (singular/plural)
The cat is under the table . (singular/plural)
My phone is on my desk . (singular/plural)
The apple fell from the tree and landed in a pile of leaves. (singular/plural)
I need to go back to my house because I left my wallet there. (singular/plural)
That’s an interesting idea , but it won’t work for me. (singular/plural)
I have two hands and five fingers . (singular/plural)
You should come over to my place sometime, we’ll have fun together. (singular/plural)
The books are on the desk. (singular/plural)
Three dogs were playing outside. (singular/plural)

Singular Noun
Plural Noun
Singular and Plural Nouns for Kids
Types of Noun with Examples
Regular and Irregular Nouns
Material Nouns
Abstract Nouns
Common Nouns
Proper Nouns
Countable and Uncountable Nouns

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Plural Nouns in English: Simple Guide with Examples

English plural nouns can seem challenging for learners. But this guide makes it easier to turn any singular (one) noun into a plural (more than one) noun.

Discover the eight rules for making nouns plural in English below. I’ve also included common examples of nouns for each rule and the different kinds of irregular plural nouns.

How Do Plurals Work in English?

Regular plural nouns, add -s to most regular nouns.

Add -es to nouns ending in -o, -s, -x, -z, -sh or -ch
Add -s to nouns that end with vowel + y

Change the ending to -es for nouns ending in -is

Change the ending to -ves for nouns ending in -f or -fe, change the ending to -ies for nouns ending in consonant + y, change the ending to -i for nouns ending in -us.

Change the ending to -a for certain nouns ending in -on

Irregular Plural Nouns

Common irregular nouns to memorize, nouns with the same plural and singular forms, nouns that don’t change, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The difference between the singular and plural forms of a noun is reflected in spelling. The most basic way to make an English noun plural is by adding -s , but as you’ll see below, there are a number of spelling rules to follow to make a noun plural and also many exceptions.

The majority of English nouns are regular, which means they all follow the same format for their plural forms. Here are the rules for dealing with regular nouns:

For most regular English nouns, you simply add the letter -s to the noun.

It’s easy, but remember that another form looks very similar, and that’s the possessive form: “a dog’s bowl,” which means the bowl belongs to the dog. So watch out for that.

Here are a few common examples:

Add -es to nouns ending in -o , -s , -x , -z , -sh or -ch

When the noun ends with -s , -x , -z , -sh or -ch , simply add -es after the noun.

For most nouns ending with the letter -o , you have to add -es after the noun instead of -s .

Add -s to nouns that end with vowel + y

If a vowel comes before the letter -y , then it’s easy. You simply add -s after the noun.

For nouns ending in -is , drop the -is and then add -es .

Let’s look at some common examples:

For some nouns ending with -f or -fe , you change the F to V and then add -es.

For nouns ending with a consonant + y , the general rule is to drop the -y and add -ies after the noun.

For nouns ending in -us , drop -us and add -i at the end of the word.

A few common examples are:

Change the ending to -a for certain nouns ending in -on

You probably won’t encounter this class of nouns very often, but it’s still important to know where you might need to use these words:

If you’ve been an English learner for some time, you know there’ll always be special cases that don’t fit into any fixed formats or follow any rules. They are irregular, which means different.

They do things differently from everyone else and that’s what makes them so interesting . They don’t follow the standard rules and have to be memorized.

Let’s look at some examples:

Talk about easy! There are some words that are exactly the same in their singular and plural forms.

Some common examples are below. You might notice that a lot of these words have to do with biology or animals.

Then there are some nouns that have no singular forms or no plural form. Because of this, you only have to learn the one form.

This is especially true with what’s called mass nouns . They have no distinct plural forms. Typically, they refer to nouns that often come in groups, or nouns that are somewhat abstract.

So now, I hope you have a clearer picture of how to make nouns plural in English.

Outside of this list, try to listen to how native speakers use these in their speech. If you don’t have natives around you, find a language exchange partner, or start watching English-language movies and TV shows .

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As you watch English language content (especially with subtitles), you’ll get more familiar with how plurals work in English by hearing them in context.

It may take some time to become familiar with the rules but that’s okay. To learn them quicker, print out a copy of these rules and keep them handy for your reference. Pretty soon, you’ll be an expert at plural spellings. Good luck!

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If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

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Plural Noun - Examples, Definition and Types

What is Plural Noun? - Definition and Examples in Sentences

Understanding Plural Nouns is a fundamental part of learning English grammar . Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike singular nouns, which denote a single entity, plural nouns show quantity by often adding an 's' or 'es' to the end of the word. However, there are many exceptions and irregular forms to learn.

In this guide, we'll explore the definition of plural nouns and provide clear examples to help you master their usage. Whether you're a student looking to improve your grammar skills or a teacher seeking clear explanations for your class, this Vedantu’s guide will give you a solid foundation in understanding plural nouns.

What is Plural Noun Definition?

Plural Noun Definition: A plural noun refers to a noun that indicates more than one person, animal, thing, or concept.

For example, in English, the plural form of "cat" is "cats," and the plural form of "book" is "books."

Plural nouns often end in "-s" or "-es," though there are exceptions (e.g., "children," "geese").

How to Change Singular Noun to a Plural Noun?

Transforming singular nouns into their plural forms is a key aspect of English grammar. Here are some general rules and examples to guide you:

Understanding these rules and exceptions will help you correctly form plural nouns and enhance your English writing and speaking skills.

List of Common Plural Noun Examples

Rules for using plural noun in sentences – subject-verb agreement.

The Golden Rule for subject-verb agreement with plural nouns is straightforward: plural noun sentences require plural verbs. This means that if your subject is a plural noun, the verb in the sentence should also be in its plural form.

Here are some Plural Noun examples in sentences:

Correct: The cats are sleeping on the bed.

Incorrect: The cats is sleeping on the bed.

Correct: The teachers are preparing for the new semester.

Incorrect: The teachers is preparing for the new semester.

Correct: The children play outside every day.

Incorrect: The children plays outside every day.

Correct: My friends have all finished their assignments.

Incorrect: My friends has all finished their assignments.

Correct: The books are on the shelf.

Incorrect: The books is on the shelf.

Correct: The computers need to be updated.

Incorrect: The computers needs to be updated.

In the correct example, "cats" is a plural noun, so "are" is the appropriate plural verb. In the incorrect example, "is" is a singular verb, which doesn’t agree with the plural noun "cats."

A quick tip: If you're unsure whether a noun is singular or plural, you can usually determine this by looking at its form or by considering whether it's referring to more than one thing.

Test your Knowledge of Plural Nouns

Answer the below questions to test your knowledge.

1. The dogs ______ (bark/barks) loudly at night.

2. The students ______ (is/are) excited about the field trip.

3. The cookies ______ (was/were) delicious.

4. The cars ______ (need/needs) regular maintenance.

5. The actors ______ (perform/performs) every weekend.

6. The houses ______ (has/have) new paint.

7. The birds ______ (fly/flies) south for the winter.

8. The musicians ______ (practices/practice) daily.

9. The libraries ______ (offers/offer) a variety of books.

10. The puppies ______ (plays/play) in the yard.

Find out if you got them all right from the answers below.

Takeaways from this Page

Here are some key takeaways about plural nouns:

Definition : Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Formation :

Regular Plurals : Add -s or -es to the singular form (e.g., cat becomes cats, box becomes boxes).

Irregular Plurals : Change the form in less predictable ways (e.g., mouse becomes mice, child becomes children).

Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns :

Countable Nouns : Can be counted and have a distinct plural form (e.g., apple to apples).

Uncountable Nouns : Do not have a plural form and refer to substances or concepts that cannot be counted individually (e.g., water, information).

Special Cases :

Nouns Ending in -y : Change -y to -ies (e.g., city becomes cities).

Nouns Ending in -f or -fe : Often change to -ves (e.g., wolf becomes wolves, knife becomes knives).

Proper Nouns : Plural forms of proper nouns (e.g., the Smiths, the Rockies) follow similar rules but are often capitalized.

Usage with Verbs : Plural nouns typically take plural verbs (e.g., The dogs bark), except when dealing with collective nouns that might take singular verbs (e.g., The team is winning).

Possessives : To show possession with plural nouns, add an apostrophe after the -s (e.g., the dogs’ toys).

FAQs on Plural Noun - Examples, Definition and Types

1. What is a plural noun?

A plural noun is a word that indicates more than one person, animal, thing, or concept. For example, "cats" is the plural form of "cat."

2. How do you form the plural of regular nouns?

For most regular nouns, you form the plural by adding an "s" at the end of the word (e.g., "book" becomes "books").

3. Are there any rules for nouns ending in "s," "x," "z," "sh," or "ch"?

Yes, for nouns ending in these sounds, you generally add "es" to form the plural (e.g., "box" becomes "boxes").

4. What about nouns ending in "y"?

For nouns ending in "y," you typically change the "y" to "ies" to form the plural (e.g., "city" becomes "cities"). However, if the "y" follows a vowel, just add "s" (e.g., "toy" becomes "toys").

5. How do you pluralize nouns ending in "f" or "fe"?

For many nouns ending in "f" or "fe," you change the "f" or "fe" to "ves" (e.g., "wolf" becomes "wolves" and "knife" becomes "knives").

6. Are there any irregular plural nouns?

Yes, some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow standard rules (e.g., "child" becomes "children," "man" becomes "men").

7. How do you pluralize compound nouns?

For compound nouns, pluralize the principal noun (the main noun) in the compound (e.g., "mother-in-law" becomes "mothers-in-law").

8. What about foreign nouns?

Foreign nouns might follow their own language’s pluralization rules (e.g., "cactus" becomes "cacti" in Latin, or "bacterium" becomes "bacteria").

9. How do you handle plural forms with numbers and letters?

When pluralizing numbers and letters, add "s" or "’s" (e.g., "mind your p's and q's," "the 1990s").

10. Can some nouns be both singular and plural?

Yes, some nouns are the same in both singular and plural forms (e.g., "sheep," "deer").

English Plural Nouns

Table of contents, introduction, what are plural nouns, plural rules: how to change singular nouns to plural ones, 1. regular plural nouns in english:, a. how to form regular plurals (adding ‘s’):, b. spelling of regular plurals:, a. nouns that end in -ch, x, s, z, or s-like sounds;, b. nouns that end in a vowel + y :, c. nouns that end in a consonant + y, d. nouns that end in o :, 4. nouns that end in f’ ‘ or ‘ fe’ :, 2. irregular plural nouns in english:, a. irregular nouns, b. plurals that change ‘a’ to ‘ae’, c. plurals that change ‘us’ to ‘i’ or ‘s’, d. plurals that change ‘um’ to ‘i’, e. plurals that change ‘ex’ to ices or ‘s’, f. plurals that change ‘is’ to ‘es’, g. plurals that change ‘on’ to ‘a’, 3. nouns that are always singular:.

Plural Nouns – Rules, List of Examples

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

The English language groups grammatical nouns as either singular or plural. That means there are either one or multiple persons, places, objects, events, or animals.

Did you know that there’s more than one rule on how to make a word plural? In my little guide, I’ll show you the two types of plural nouns, their rules, and a list of examples. I also provided a worksheet that will test your understanding of plural nouns.

What Is a Plural Noun?

While singular-form nouns refer to one person, place, object, or event, plural nouns refer to a type of noun whose quantity is more than one.

For instance, the noun apples is the plural form of the singular noun apple . It means there can be two or more apples. The same is true with the noun buses, which is the plural form of the singular noun bus. The plural form of the singular noun bug is the noun bugs.

I live in Eastern Canada, and one of our well-known animals is a moose. I am always puzzled over what the plural of it is. Mooses? Meese? The answer is actually just moose. There are some exceptions to plural nouns like this.

But here are more plural noun examples that make sense.

Film – films
Baby – babies
Ox – oxen

Remember: mass nouns , non-count nouns, or uncountable nouns do not have plural forms. For example:

Plural Nouns vs. Singular Nouns

Singular nouns represent a single quantity of any noun. It can be a person, place, event, object, or animal. For example:

A strand of hair

Plural nouns refer to something whose quantity is more than one. For example:

Five dresses
Two strands of hair
Those daisies

Plural Nouns vs. Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns are one of the types of nouns that show ownership. Like plural nouns, they end in s. However, possessive nouns always have an apostrophe ( ‘ ) before the s. Consider this example:

The lamp’s bulb.

Here, lamp’s refer to the possession of lamp instead of multiple lamps. The lamp has a bulb.

Here are more examples of possessive nouns.

Rose’s artwork
Mira’s phone
The lion’s tail

Plural nouns do not have possessive forms unless they are possessive plural nouns. For example:

Jackets’ pockets (possessive plural noun)
Students’ books (possessive plural noun)

Plural Nouns vs. Collective Nouns

Unlike plural nouns, collective nouns represent groups of people, things, or animals. For instance, a school of fish represents a group of fish as a united whole. Here are more examples of collective nouns.

A pair (of shoes)
A pack (of cards)
A pride (of lions)
A class (of students)

Notice how these collective nouns are treated as singular nouns. If we say pairs of shoes, we refer to more than a pair.

What Is a Regular Plural Noun?

Regular nouns are nouns that follow the typical pattern of making them plural.

There are simple rules for making regular nouns plural. We either add -s or -es to the end of the word, depending on its ending. Sometimes, we also change the last letter of the word before adding -s.

Add -s to the end of a word when making it plural. For example:

Cat – cats
Dog – dogs
Idea – ideas

Add -es to the end of a word if its singular form ends in -s, -ss, -ch, -x, -sh, -o, or -z. For example:

Bus – buses
Lass – lasses
Bush – bushes
Crutch – crutches
Box – boxes
Blitz – blitzes
Mango – mangoes

A few words, such as photos , pianos , and halos , are exceptions .

The plural noun form may require you to double the -s or -z before adding -es. For example:

Fez – fezzes

If the regular noun ends in -f, fe, change it to ve, then add -s. For example:

Wife – wives
Knife – knives

Another regular plural noun rule is to change -y into -ies. For example:

City – cities
Puppy – puppies

But if the letter before -y is a vowel, just add an -s. For example:

Ray – rays
Toy – toys

Singular nouns that end in -us will change into -i for their plural forms. For example:

Cactus – cacti

Change the word into -es if the singular noun ends in -is. For example:

Analysis – analyses
Parenthesis – parentheses

If the singular noun ends in -on, change it into -a. For example:

Phenomenon – phenomena

Check out this list of regular plural nouns.

Boss – bosses
Candy – candies
Gift – gifts
Curry – curries
Day – days
Collection – collections
Movie – movies
Tray – trays
Shoe – shoes

What Is an Irregular Plural Noun?

Irregular noun rules are inconsistent because they follow no specific guidelines. For example, the irregular plural noun form of child is children, and goose’s plural form is geese. Here are more examples.

Man – men
Foot – feet
Mouse – mice
Person – people

Another tip when using irregular nouns is recognizing that some are identical to their singular noun counterparts. They can be troublesome nouns because it takes memorization to identify these words. Here are some examples:

Fish – fish
Moose – moose
Species – species
Sheep – sheep
Deer – deer

Below is a list of irregular plural nouns.

Woman – women
Aircraft – aircraft
Means – means
Trout – trout
Swine – swine
Salmon – salmon
Spacecraft – spacecraft
Series – series
Louse – lice
Penny – pence
Caveman – cavemen
Policeman – policemen
Alumna – alumnae
Formula – formulae
Index – indices
Appendix – appendices
Vertex – vertices
Axis – axes
Addendum – addenda
Datum – data
Forum – fora
Genus – genera
Stylus – styli

Summarizing English Plural Nouns

This article has taught you the plural nouns’ definition. This type of noun refers to more than one person, animal, place, idea, animal, or thing.

Remember that the plural form of nouns depends on their singular noun versions. For example, toy becomes toys, but knife becomes knives. Louse becomes lice, and sheep stays the same.

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Plural Nouns: Definition, Meaning and Examples

By Allison Bressmer

Pluralizing singular nouns (also known as making plural nouns) can be as easy as just adding s or es . Or adding letters to the noun, or replacing letters, or changing the entire spelling of the noun, or just leaving the word alone.

Okay, so perhaps “easy” isn’t really the way to describe the process of pluralization. Let’s go with “interesting” instead.

What Is a Plural Noun? (And How Is It Different Than a Singular Noun?

How to make regular plural nouns, how to pluralize irregular nouns, more unique plurals, a few more irregulars, pluralize for your audience, pluralization: use resources.

A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. This is true for both singular and plural nouns.

A singular noun is a noun representing a single (just one) person, place, thing, or idea. For example, the nouns drink , berry , and child are singular nouns.

Often, the determiners a or an are used with singular nouns :

I’d like a drink , please.
Would you like to try a berry ?
Stop acting like a child !

When you make plural nouns, you indicate that there is more than one of whatever it is the noun represents.

For example, drink becomes drinks , berry becomes berries , and child becomes children . You may use the determiners few , many , and several before a plural noun:

We’d like to order a few drinks , please.
I like to put lots of berries on my cereal.
The schoolyard was filled with children .

You’ve probably noticed that the method of pluralizing each of those noun examples is different. That’s because some nouns are considered regular—they tend to follow some simple rules—and others are irregular. The irregulars basically make their own rules.

Grab yourself one of those drinks I just pluralized and we’ll investigate. You’ll thank me for the advice later!

Regular nouns are generally straightforward when it comes to following the rules of pluralization. That’s why they are labeled as regular. For the most part, you pluralize them by adding s or es or by changing y to ies .

Of course, there are exceptions. You’ll notice a theme of exceptions throughout this study in pluralizing.

Pluralizing by Adding Letters

1. just add s.

This is probably the easiest rule of pluralization, and many nouns follow this rule.

2. Just add es

This rule is almost as easy, and just a little less common. It is used for nouns that end in ch , x , s (or s -sounds), sh , and z (with some special additions for the z and some s -sound-ending nouns)

Have you figured out the special additions for some s - and z -ending words? Sometimes it’s necessary to add an extra s or z to the noun before adding the pluralizing es .

exceptions to the rules examples: analyses and cacti

There are a few other exceptions.

For example, the add es rule is pretty reliable for nouns ending in ch and sh , but not as reliable for nouns ending with x .

Some nouns that end in is or us don’t follow the just add es rule either.

With so many choices for octopus , which should you use?

3. Regular nouns ending in o

Once again, our regular nouns show their slightly rebellious side. The answer? It depends on the word. I told you you’d be happy to have that drink!

4. Regular nouns ending in y

If the nouns ends in a vowel + y , then just add s .

(And by the way, you can spell whiskey without the e as well, if it’s Scotch.)

If the noun ends in a consonant + y , you work under the replacing letters method.

Pluralizing Regular Nouns by Replacing Letters

When a noun ends in a consonant + y , the y becomes ies .

Are there exceptions? Of course there are.

Nouns such as jealousy , electricity , flexibility end with a consonant + y but do not have a plural form because they are uncountable nouns . We’ll look at them more closely further down the post.

Nouns that end in f or fe also follow the replacing letters method for pluralization. The f becomes a v . If the singular noun ends in s , you add an es to that v. If it ends in fe , you just add the s .

And yes. There are exceptions. Say the words aloud and listen for the pattern in the exceptions.

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the rules for the nouns that are called regular even though they have exceptions to the rules somewhat, well, regularly.

If you’re wondering why there are so many exceptions, it’s because the English language has a rich but complicated history and was formed through the integration of a variety of languages. Some of its words still follow rules from their original language.

Let’s move on to the irregular nouns. You might want to refill your drink.

Irregular nouns follow their own rules. They have no use for conformity, which is why they have been labeled irregular.

Pluralizing irregular nouns basically happens using one of two opposite methods: changing the singular-noun form almost entirely or not changing the singular-noun form at all.

There is no trick for determining which method to use. And knowing how to pluralize these nouns is not intuitive. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. If you’ve ever spoken to toddlers, you’ve probably heard them say things like this:

“I went to the pet store. I saw kitty cats, puppy dogs, and mouses.”

So cute, right?

We smile because they’ve said “mouses" which is adorable but incorrect. However, toddlers’ use of “mouses” is actually quite impressive as it shows they are adapting to and internalizing the rules of language. But “mouse” as a noun does not follow the rules and after a few months or years, the toddlers learn to use the far less intuitive “mice.”

Those same toddlers might tell you they’ve seen “sheeps” at the farm. Again, their instincts are right, it’s the noun “sheep” that breaks the rules.

For these irregular nouns, you really just need to learn and remember their pluralized forms and if you aren’t certain, consult your dictionary.

1. Pluralizing irregular nouns by changing the singular-noun form

Here are some examples of commonly used nouns whose plural forms are created by changing their singular forms.

2. Pluralizing nouns by changing absolutely nothing from the singular-noun form

Here are some examples of commonly used plural nouns spelled exactly the same as their singular forms.

We aren’t done yet! There are still more special pluralization situations: nouns that are only plural, uncountable nouns, and compound nouns.

Only-Plural Nouns

Some nouns do not have a singular form. They only exist in plural form. For example,

pants : you can try on pants, but not a pant. You can, however, try on a pair of pants.
clothes : you hang clothes in your closet. If you only have one shirt, you would say “I only have one shirt” not “I only have one clothe.”
glasses : you wear glasses, or a pair of glasses, but you do not wear a glass. (If you’re talking about drinking glasses, then you can have just one glass.)
shenanigans: you may get up to shenanigans, but are never just up to a shenanigan (what fun would just one shenanigan be anyway?)

Uncountable Nouns

The nouns we have pluralized so far have been countable nouns. Countable nouns are nouns we use for things we can actually count using numbers. You can use a / an or another determiner in front of them in their singular form or another determiner to answer “how many” in their plural form.

For example, you might have:

Uncountable nouns are nouns that represent things we cannot count with numbers. It doesn’t make sense to use a / an or other determiners that show “how many.” Phrases that answer “how much” are used with them instead.

Uncountable nouns have only one form. There is no plural form for them.

For example:

jealousy : They were filled with jealousy.
electricity : We have no electricity.
research : He did so much research for the project.

example of an uncountable noun: tour guide says "Let me give you more information about this

information : Can you provide me with more information?
knowledge : She has a great deal of knowledge on the subject.
evidence : There is not enough evidence to convict the defendant!
water: I’ll just have water. (If you ask for a specific number of servings of water, you would usually say “a glass of water” or “three bottles of water.”)

Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are nouns that comprise two or more words. They can be written in three different ways: one word, two words, or as a set of hyphenated words.

Most compound nouns that are made of two nouns follow the just add s method of pluralization. And, many compound nouns that comprise a noun and a non-noun also follow this method (but of course, there are exceptions).

1. One-word compound nouns

2. two-word compound nouns, 3. hyphenated compound nouns.

Like the two-word compound nouns, hyphenated compound nouns also work as one unit.

You can see that the examples used so far all follow the just add s rule. You’re probably already thinking of other common compound nouns that don’t follow that rule. For example,

The easiest way to get these plurals right is simply to memorize them or look them up. However, there is a grammatical reason for their different methods of pluralization.

In passerby , hanger-on , and runner-up , the compound noun is made up of a noun with an er ending and an adverb. For that combination, the s is added to the noun part of the compound.

In sister-in-law and attorney-at-law , the compound noun is made up of two nouns connected by a preposition. For this combination, the first noun is pluralized.

Another way to think about this combination is to figure out which noun is the head noun. In other words, which noun is the most important (the head), and which noun just adds more information about that noun?

example: identifying 'sister' as the head-noun in 'sister-in-law'

For sister-in-law, sister is the head noun. The in-law just tells us more about the type of sister we’re referencing. The in-law phrase works as an adjective . That same explanation applies to attorneys-at-law or attorneys general , another example of a two-word compound noun.

What happens if there is no obvious head noun?

If we say, “he’s just a good-for-nothing” do we pluralize that by saying, “They’re all good-for-nothings ?”

If we say, “I had a serious back-and-forth with my family about our political differences,” do we pluralize that by saying, “I had some serious back-and-forths with my family about our political differences?”

Yes, we do. How do I know? I looked those compound nouns up! I had to check a few online dictionaries to verify the plural versions. These are phrases that we have adapted into use over time and it can take time for dictionaries to catch up.

Still with me? Good!

Since you’re here, take a look at this list of commonly used, or at least somewhat commonly used, nouns and their unique pluralization forms.

further examples of irregular pluralizations

Language is fluid, as the English language demonstrates in its own history, and changes continue to come. Along with consulting your dictionary when you’re uncertain about a word’s proper plural form, consider your audience as well.

Some methods of pluralization that used to be considered “improper” are now acceptable, at least in more casual situations.

For example, if you’re telling a friend you’d like “two tablespoonfuls of sugar in your iced tea” (that’s just too much, in my opinion), you’re fine! If you’re writing a fancy cookbook, then you might want to use the more formal “tablespoonsful.”

Some methods of pluralization are straightforward, and many nouns adhere to those methods. These are the plurals that you know just because you know them. You don’t even have to think about them!

Other plural forms are less compliant and it’s worth it to work on memorizing them, especially the ones you will use often.

When it comes to the outliers that pop up unexpectedly, there’s no need to guess. Take a minute and consult your dictionary and then run your work through a final ProWritingAid grammar check for accuracy assurance.

correcting incorrect pluralization of analysis in ProWritingAid

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Allison Bressmer

Allison Bressmer is a professor of freshman composition and critical reading at a community college and a freelance writer. If she isn’t writing or teaching, you’ll likely find her reading a book or listening to a podcast while happily sipping a semi-sweet iced tea or happy-houring with friends. She lives in New York with her family. Connect at linkedin.com/in/allisonbressmer.

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Plural Nouns - All Rules and Examples

A plural noun is a grammatical category that talks of number (quantity of a noun). Plural nouns represent a quantity that is greater than that of the noun's natural quantity. Plural nouns are made from singular nouns applying some certain rules to singular nouns. Read the entire article to learn plural noun definition, plural noun rules and examples.

This article covers:

What are plural nouns?

Plural noun examples, examples of plural nouns in sentences.

Singular Noun vs. Plural Noun

Regular and Irregular Plural Noun Rules

Plural nouns exercises.

Let's jump into the topic without any further delay!

Plural nouns are the nouns that refer to more than one person, place, thing, idea, etc., such as people, cities, laptops and freedom. Singular nouns are converted into plural nouns using some standard rules.

According to the definition, plural nouns are:

Nouns that refer to more than one person, place, thing or idea.
Nouns that follow certain rules for pluralization (making a plural noun).
Nouns that show plurality-more than one. That is, unlike Arabic, English plural nouns are the ones which refer to more than one which suggests that two persons, places, things or ideas fall under the category of plural. (Think deeply.).

a. There are five boys in the room.

b. Where are your classmates?

c. How many students are there in the school?

d. You have two mangoes.

e. Men will be men.

Singular Noun vs. Plural Noun

Both singular and plural nouns are the types of noun. That is, both singular and plural nouns fall under the grammatical category of noun.
Both singular and plural nouns refer to persons, places, things or ideas.

Difference

While a singular noun shows "oneness", a plural noun shows "more-ness". That is, a singular noun refers to only one person, place, thing, idea, etc., and a plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, idea, etc.
Plural nouns follow some rules in the process of pluralization (when making plural), singular nouns on the other hand do not follow.

Rule 1: Most of the nouns accept an - s at the end to become plural.

Group s
Bottle s

Rule 2: Add an - es to the end of nouns that end with s, ss, sh, ch, z, x .

Gra ss es
Bran ch es

Rule 3: Add - ies to the end of nouns ending in " y " that have consonants before that "y".

Ar m y becomes arm ies .

Rule 4: Add an - s to nouns ending in " y " that have vowels before that "y".

Boy becomes b o y s

Rule 4: Add - ves to nouns that end in - f and - fe .

Cal f becomes cal ves .
Wi fe becomes wi ves .

Rule 5: Replace - us with - i .

Syllab us becomes syllab i .
Alumn us becomes alumn i .

Rule 6: Replace - is with - es .

Analys is becomes analys es
Diagnos is becomes diagnos es .

Rule 7: Replace - on with - a .

Criteri on becomes criteri a .
Phenomen on becomes phenomen a .

Rule 8: Replace - a of "man" with - e .

Policem a n becomes policem e n.
Watchm a n becomes watchm e n.
Wom a n becomes wom e n.

Question 1: What is the difference between singular and plural nouns? explain.

Question 2: Give the plural forms of the below-given singular nouns.

Question 3: Identify the plural nouns used in the plural noun examples.

a. A yoke is usually pulled by two oxen.

b. The troop contained 200 armies.

c. The brethren of the organization finalized the meeting.

d. There are different foci in the diagram.

e. Arabic and English are the media of communication in this university.

FAQs- Plural Nouns

What is a plural noun.

A plural noun is a noun that refers to more than one person, place, thing or idea. Plural nouns are formed using some particular rules mentioned in the article above.

10 Examples of Plural Noun

a. A yoke is usually pulled by two oxen .

b. The Ind-troop contained 200 armies .