Plurals of Nouns
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Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ Plurals of Nouns A. Regular Plurals 1. Most nouns ending in a consonant or a silent e form regular plurals by adding –s. See below for exceptions. Singular bed cent cheetah clue cuff horse path prize topic truck window Plural beds cents cheetahs clues cuffs horses paths prizes topics trucks windows 2. Words that end in sibilants such as ch (when not pronounced as /k/), ce, dge, ge, s, tch, x, or z add –es. The –es is pronounced as a separate syllable. Singular age atlas box bus church class dish ditch edge fox gas hoax inch mass peach quiz topaz waltz watch wish Plural ages atlases boxes buses/busses churches classes dishes ditches edges foxes gases hoaxes inches masses peaches quizzes topazes waltzes watches wishes 1 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 2a. Words that end in ch when the ch is pronounced as /k/ add only –s. Singular Plural Czech epoch loch matriarch oligarch patriarch stomach tach tech Czechs epochs lochs matriarchs oligarchs patriarchs stomachs tachs techs 3. Words ending in –y. 3a. Words ending in a vowel plus y add –s to form the plural. Singular boy day donkey guy hallway toy Plural boys days donkeys guys hallways toys Exceptions: Singular colloquy money soliloquy Plural colloquies moneys/monies soliloquies 3b. Words ending in a consonant plus y change the y to i and add –es. Plural Singular artery biopsy body country story arteries biopsies bodies countries stories 2 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 4. Nouns ending in –f, -ff, or –fe. 4a. Many of these nouns just add –s. Singular belief chief cliff cuff handkerchief proof reef roof sheriff Plural beliefs chiefs cliffs cuffs handkerchiefs proofs reefs roofs sheriffs 4b. Others change the –f to –v and add –es. Singular calf elf half knife leaf life scarf self thief wife wolf Plural calves elves halves knives leaves lives scarves selves thieves wives wolves 4c. A few have both forms. Singular dwarf hoof loaf wharf Plural *dwarfs/dwarves hoofs/*hooves loafs/*loaves wharfs/*wharves *Preferred form 3 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 5. Nouns ending in a vowel (except silent e). 5a. Singular nouns ending in –i usually add –s. Singular alibi rabbi salami ski taxi Plural alibis rabbis salamis skis taxis 5b. Words ending in a vowel plus –o add –s. Singular bamboo cameo cuckoo folio kangaroo patio radio ratio shampoo stereo studio tattoo zoo Plural bamboos cameos cuckoos folios kangaroos patios radios ratios shampoos stereos studios tattoos zoos 5c. Many words ending in a consonant plus –o add –s. Singular avocado concerto condo demo ego embryo hairdo kilo photo piano solo soprano tango Plural avocados concertos condos demos egos embryos hairdos kilos photos pianos solos sopranos tangos 4 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 5d. Some words ending in a consonant plus –o add –es. Singular echo embargo hero mosquito potato tomato torpedo veto volcano Plural echoes embargoes heroes mosquitoes potatoes tomatoes torpedoes vetoes volcanoes 5e. Some words ending in –o add either –s or –es. Singular banjo cargo commando halo motto tornado zero Plural banjos*/banjoes cargos/cargoes* commando*/commandoes halos*/haloes mottos/mottoes* tornados/tornadoes* zeros*/zeroes *Preferred Form 5f. Nouns that end in –a, –ee, –ie, and –u add –s. Singular arena bee coma cookie guinea guru hernia knee menu movie nominee tea Plural arenas bees comas cookies guineas gurus hernias knees menus movies nominees teas 5 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ B. Irregular Plurals 1. Plurals formed by adding –(r)en. Singular brother child ox Plural brothers/brethren* children oxen *Used only in a religious sense nowadays. 2. Plurals formed by a change of the medial vowel. Singular foot goose louse man mouse tooth woman Plural feet geese lice men mice teeth women 3. Nouns which retain the singular form in the plural (zero plural). Singular deer moose salmon sheep trout Plural deer moose salmon sheep trout 4. Nouns which have the regular plural and zero plural. Singular antelope crab duck elk flounder herring reindeer Plural antelopes/antelope crabs/crab ducks (farm)/duck (wild) elks/elk flounders/flounder herrings/herring reindeers/reindeer 6 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ C. Foreign Plurals 1. Many Latin nouns that end in –us form their plurals by adding the regular English plural ending –es. Singular bonus campus chorus circus prospectus virus Plural bonuses campuses choruses circuses prospectuses viruses 2. Other Latin nouns that end in –us have two forms: a regular English plural and the Latin plural. Singular apparatus cactus English Plural apparatuses cactus corpus focus fungus corpuses focuses funguses nucleus radius stylus syllabus terminus nucleuses radiuses styluses syllabuses terminuses Latin Plural apparatus cacti (preferred) corpora foci fungi (preferred) nuclei radii styli syllabi termini 3. Other nouns derived from Latin that end in –us form their plurals by adding –i or –ra. Singular bacillus coccus genus locus opus pneumococcus staphylococcus stimulus streptococcus Latin Plural bacilli cocci genera loci opera pneumococci staphylococci stimuli streptococci 7 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 4. Latin nouns ending in –a usually add –es to form the plural. Singular area arena dilemma diploma drama encyclopedia era idea panorama quota retina sofa sonata umbrella villa Plural areas arenas dilemmas diplomas dramas encyclopedias eras ideas panoramas quotas retinas sofas sonatas umbrellas villas 5. Some Latin nouns ending in –a have both the English and Latin plural. Singular antenna formula nebula vertebra English Plural antennas (radio & TV) formulas (preferred) nebulas vertebras Latin Plural antennae (biology) formulae nebulae vertebrae (preferred) 6. A few Latin nouns ending in –a have only the Latin Plural. Singular alga larva Plural algae larvae 7. To refer to a person who has graduated from college, a form of the word alumnus is often used. One male graduate: Two or more male graduates: One female graduate: Two or more female graduates: alumnus alumni alumna alumnae Note: One can avoid confusing these forms by using the word graduate(s) instead. 8 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 8. Latin nouns ending in –ex and –ix usually have two plural forms: one regular English plural and a Latin plural formed by changing –ex or –ix to –ices. Singular apex appendix codex index matrix vertex vortex English Plural apexes appendixes (anatomy) indexes matrixes vertexes vortexes Latin Plural apices appendices (books) codices indices (mathematics) matrices vertices vortices 9. Many nouns of Latin origin ending in –um have a regular English plural and a Latin plural ending in –a. Others in this group have only the English plural, and still others have only the Latin plural. Singular aquarium curriculum medium memorandum moratorium stadium stratum symposium English Plural aquariums curriculums mediums (spiritualist) memorandums moratoriums stadiums (sports) stratums symposiums Singular album asylum chrysanthemum forum museum ultimatum Latin Plural aquaria curricula media (radio, TV, etc.) memoranda moratoria stadia (Roman measurement) strata (preferred) symposia English Plural albums asylums chrysanthemums forums museums ultimatums Singular addendum bacterium corrigendum datum desideratum erratum ovum stratum Latin Plural addenda bacteria corrigenda data* desiderata errata ova strata *Data is often used as a singular noun instead of datum. 9 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 10. Nouns derived from the Greek ending in –is change –is to –es (pronounced /iz/) to form the plural. Singular analysis axis basis crisis diagnosis ellipsis hypothesis oasis parenthesis synopsis thesis Greek Plural analyses axes bases crises diagnoses ellipses hypotheses oases parentheses synopses theses Note: Metropolis has a regular English plural metropolises. Note: The plural of basis is pronounced /:beI siz/, but the plural of base is pronounced /:beI sIz/. 11. Many Greek nouns ending in –on form regular English plurals by adding –s. Others change the –on to –a. A few have both forms. Singular demon electron neutron proton Singular criterion phenomenon Singular automaton ganglion Plural demons electrons neutrons protons Greek Plural criteria phenomena English Plural automatons ganglions Greek Plural automata ganglia 12. Greek nouns ending in –ma have a regular English plural and a Greek plural ending in –mata. Singular dogma schema stigma stoma English Plural *dogmas schemas stigmas stomas *Preferred form **Rare 10 Greek Plural dogmata** *schemata stigmata *stomata Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 13. Nouns of French origin ending in –eau have a regular plural ending in –s and a French plural ending in –eaux. Both plurals are pronounced /z/. Singular adieu bureau plateau tableau trousseau English Plural adieus* bureaus* plateaus* tableaus trousseaus French Plural adieux bureaux plateaux tableaux* trousseaux* *Preferred form 14. Some nouns derived from French ending in –s or –x have the same form in both singular and plural; however, in speech the ending is pronounced /z/ in the plural. Singular chamois chassis corps faux pas patois Plural chamois chassis corps faux pas patois 15. Some nouns of Italian origin ending in –o have an Italian plural ending in –i. Singular graffito (archeology) libretto solo soprano tempo virtuoso English Plural -*librettos *solos sopranos *tempos *virtuosos Italian Plural graffiti libretti soli** -tempi virtuosi *Preferred form **Rare 16. Some nouns of Hebrew origin have a regular English plural and a Hebrew plural ending in –im; others have only the Hebrew plural. Singular cherub seraph teraph kibbutz English Plural cherubs seraphs Hebrew Plural cherubim seraphim teraphim* kibbutzim *Usually used in the plural 11 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ C. Proper Nouns Most proper nouns have regular plurals, even nouns ending in consonant + –y . Singular Brady Germany Kennedy Plural the Bradys the two Germanys the Kennedys Exceptions: Singular Allegheny Mountains Rocky Mountains Plural Alleghenies Rockies D. Compounds Compound nouns usually form their plural by pluralizing the most important word. 1. Compound nouns which pluralize the first word. Singular attorney general brother-in-law commander-in-chief consul general court-martial father-in-law hanger-on lady-in-waiting maid of honor man-at-arms man-of-war mother-in-law notary public passer-by poet laureate sister-in-law Plural attorneys general brothers-in-law commanders-in-chief consuls general courts-martial fathers-in-law hangers-on ladies-in-waiting maids of honor men-at-arms men-of-war mothers-in-law notaries public passers-by poets laureate sisters-in-law 2. Examples of the types of compound nouns which pluralize the last word. Singular apple tree close-up fountain pen shut-in Plural apple trees close-ups fountain pens shut-ins 12 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ 3. Compounds written as one word add the plural to the end of the word. Singular bucketful cupful journeyman spoonful stepchild stowaway toothpick Plural bucketfuls cupfuls journeymen spoonfuls stepchildren stowaways toothpicks 3. Compound nouns which pluralize both words. Singular gentleman farmer manservant woman doctor Plural gentlemen farmers menservants women doctors E. Numbers, Letters, Words, and Symbols 1. The plural of numbers and abbreviations is formed by adding ’s (traditional) or only –s (recent trend). in the 1930’s or 1930s to count by 10’s or 10s to know your ABC’s or ABCs two MP’s or MPs 2. The plural of letters, symbols, and words used as examples is formed by adding ’s. Cross your t’s and dot your i’s. The border consisted of a series of ’s. There are too many and’s in this sentence. There were two large X’s on the map. Note: Do not add an apostrophe to a number that is written out. The gymnast scored three tens in the competition. If you are not sure about a plural or its meaning, consult a good dictionary. 13 Downloaded from http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/ Bibliography Curme, George O. English Grammar. 1947. College Outline Series 61. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1964. Davies, Peter, ed. Success with Words. Pleasantville: Reader's Digest, 1983. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1999. Perrin, Porter G., and George H. Smith. Handbook of Current English. Chicago: Scott, Foresman, 1955. Quirk, Randolph, et al. A Grammar of Contemporary English. London: Longman, 1974. Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. CD-ROM. Vers. 3.0. Random, 1999. 14
