Plural and Singular Forms of Nouns

 

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Oh yes, so many learners of ESL, nouns can be quite difficult. Like, when do they know when to simply add s or es or ves, or simply change the entire spelling?

Here are some of the guides that you may use. THE BEST WAY TO LEARN ABOUT NOUND AND THEIR PLURAL FORM IS TO READ, READ, READ, READ, READ ENGLISH BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.

 

NOUNS AND THEIR PLURAL FORMS

Regular Plural Forms

Building                                              Buildings  

Yard                                                    Yards

Ground                                               Grounds

Carrot                                                 Carrots

 

Plural formed by adding -es

Rash                                                    Rashes

Bus                                                      Buses

Birch                                                   Birches

Box                                                     Boxes

 

Plurals of Nouns ending in Y

Duty                                                   Duties

Party                                                   Parties

Pantry                                                 Pantries

When a noun ends in y preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed by adding s.

Tray                                                     Trays

Day                                                      Days

Pulley                                                  Pulleys

Envoy                                                  Envoys

Boy                                                      Boys

Foray                                                  Forays

 

Plural of Nouns Ending in o

Studio                                                 Studios

Rodeo                                                 Rodeos

Folio                                                    Folios

Radio                                                   Radios

Ratio                                                    Ratios

Duo                                                     Duos

 

The plural form of most nouns ending in o, preceded by a consonant, is formed by adding s, but in some cases,  the plural is formed by adding -es.

Piano                                                   Pianos

Solo                                                     Solos

Credo                                                  Credos

Auto                                                    Autos

Alto                                                      Altos

 

But:

Tomato                                               Tomatoes

Potato                                                 Potatoes

Echo                                                    Echoes

Hero                                                    Heroes

 

There are some words ending in o with a preceding consonant that may form the plural with either s or es: motto, mango, mosquito. If you are not sure when to add s  or   -es, consult the dictionary.

 

Plural of Nouns ending in -f or -ff

The plural of most nouns ending in f or ff is formed by regularly adding S.

Roof                                                    Roofs

Dwarf                                                 Dwarfs

Belief                                                   Beliefs

Handkerchief                                    Handkerchiefs

Gulf                                                     Gulfs

Staff                                                    Staffs

 

The plural form of some nouns ending in f or fe is formed by changing the f or fe to f or -ve and adding s.

Calf                                                      Calves

Elf                                                         Elves

Half                                                      Halves

Shelf                                                    Shelves

Knife                                                    Knives

Loaf                                                     Loaves

Self                                                     Selves

Wharf                                                 Wharves

Leaf                                                     Leaves

Since most of these words with irregular plurals are in common use, careful listening may help you spell them correctly. If you are doubtful about spelling, however, look up the singular form of the word in the dictionary. If the plural of a word is irregularly formed, the plural will be given immediately after the singular.

Nouns with Irregular Plurals

Foot                                                     Feet

Man                                                     Men

Woman                                              Women

Child                                                    Children

Datum                                                Data

Index                                                   Indices or Indexes

Goose                                                 Geese

Mouse                                                Mice

Ox                                                        Oxen

Basis                                                    bases

Phenomenon                                    Phenomena

Hypothesis                                        Hypotheses

 

The plural and singular forms are the same for some nouns.

Sheep

Deer

Corps

Cattle

Chinese

Portuguese

 

The Plural of Names

Albert Steele and his family             the Steeles

Judy Garcia                                       the Garcias

James Andres                                   the Andreses

Miranda Amos                                  the Amoses