Plurals of nouns
Rule 1 Regular formation of plurals
The plural of most nouns is formed by adding –s.
Building+ s = buildings
ground +s = grounds
Yard + s = yards
carrot + s= carrots
Rule 2 Plurals formed with –es
The plural of nouns ending in s, sh, ch, x and z is formed with –es
Rash + es= rashes
crutch + es= crutches
Bus + es = buses
box + es = boxes
Waltz + es = waltzes
Rule 3 Plurals of Nouns ending in y
When a noun ends in y preceded by a consonant, the plural is formed by changing the y to I and
adding –es
Duty duti + es = duties
Party parti + es =parties
Pantry pantry + es = pantries
When a noun ends in y preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed by adding –s.
Tray + s = trays
envoy + s = envoys
Day + s = days
boy + s = boys
Pulley + s = pulleys
foray + s = forays
Rule 4 Plurals of nouns ending in o
The plural of nouns ending in o, preceded by a vowel, is formed by adding –s.
Studio + s = studios
radio + s = radios
Rodeo + s =rodeos
ratio + s = ratios
Cameo + s =cameos
duo + s = duos
The plural of most nouns ending in o, preceded by consonant, is formed by adding –s, but for some
nouns of this class the plural is formed by adding –es.
Piano + s = pianos
auto + s += autos
Solo + s = solos
silo + s = silos
Tomato + es = tomatoes echo + es = echoes
Potato + es = potatoes
hero + es = heroes
There are some words ending in o with a preceding consonant that may form the plural with either –s
or –es: motto, zero, mosito. The safest thing to do is to memorize the few words that formed –es and
to consult the dictionary when in doubt.
Rule 5 plural of nouns ending in f, ff, or fe.
The plurals of most nouns ending in f or ff are formed regularly by adding s.
Roof + s = roofs
dwarf + s = dwarfs
Belief + s = beliefs
handkerchief + s = handkerchiefs
Gulf + s = gulfs
staff + s = staffs
The plural of some nouns ending in f or fe is formed by changing the f or fe to ve and adding –s
Calf – calves
loaf – loaves
Life – lives
self – selves
Half –halves
wharf –wharves
Shelf – shelves
leaf – leaves
Knife – knives
elf – elves
Rule 6 Nouns with irregular plurals
The plural of some nouns is formed by change of spelling
Tooth – teeth
goose- geese
Man – men
mouse – mice
Woman – women
ox – oxen
Child – children
basis – bases
Datum – data
phenomenon – phenomena
Crisis – crises
hypothesis – hypotheses
The plural and singular forms are the same for a few nouns
Sheep
corps
Deer
moose
Japanese
Swiss
Rule 7 the plurals of Names
The plural of names is formed by adding –s or –es
Albert Steele – The Steeles Jack Amos – the Amoses
Judy Lyons – the Lyonses
Bob Sable – the Sables
Rule 8 the plurals of compound nouns
When a compound noun is written without a hyphen, the plural is formed at the end of the word.
Armful + s = armfuls
teaspoonful + teaspoonfuls
Cupful + s= cupfuls
skateboard + s = skateboards
When a compound noun is made up of a noun plus a modifier, the plural is added to the noun.
Mother- in –law (the phase in law is a modifier.)
Editors – in – chief (the phase in chief is a modifier.)
Attorneys – general (general modifies attorneys.)
Notaries public (public modifies attorneys.)
Passers – by (by modifies passers.)
Bill of sale (the phases of sale modifies bills.)
Secretaries of state (of state modifies secretaries.)