The Noun: Number
Singular:
A Noun that denotes one person or thing, is said to be in the Singular Number.
Ex: Boy, Girl, Cow, Bird, Tree, Book, Pen
Plural:
A Noun that denotes more than one person or thing, is said to be in the Plural Number.
Ex: Boys, Girls, Cows, Birds, Trees, Books, Pens
How Plurals are Formed
- The Plural of nouns is generally formed by adding 's' to the Singular.
Pen - Pens
Desk - Desks
Boy - Boys
Nest - Nests
- But Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch (soft), or -x form the plural by adding -es to the singular.
Class - Classes
Brush - Brushes
Branch - Branches
Kiss - Kisses
Match - Matches
Tax - Taxes
Dish - dishes
Watch - Watches
Box - Boxes
- Most Nouns ending in -o also form the plural by adding -es to the singular.
Buffalo - Buffaloes
Potato - Potatoes
Mango - Mangoes
Cargo - Cargoes
Volcano - Volcanoes
Hero - Heroes
Echo - Echoes
- A few nouns ending in -o merely add -s.
Dynamo - Dynamos
Canto - Cantos
Piano - Pianos
Kilo - Kilos
Solo - Solos
Memento - Mementos
Photo - Photos
Logo - Logos
Ratio - Ratios
Quarto - Quartos
Stereo - Stereos
Commando - Commandos
- Nouns ending in -y preceded by a consonant, form their plural by changing -y into -I, and adding -es.
Baby - Babies
Army - Armies
Lady - Ladies
Story - Stories
City - Cities
Pony - Ponies
- The following nouns ending in -f or -fe form their plural by changing -f, or -fe into v and adding -es.
Thief - Thieves
Life - Lives
Loaf - Loaves
Half - Halves
Sheaf - Sheaves
Wife - Wives
Calf - Calves
Knife - Knives
Elf - Elves
Wolf - Wolves
Leaf - Leaves
Shelf - Shelves
Self - Selves
Other words ending in -f or -fe add -s.
Chief - Chiefs
Gulf - Gulfs
Safe - Safes
Cliff - Cliffs
Proof - Proofs
Handkerchief - Handkerchiefs
- There are a few nouns that form their plural by changing the inside vowel of the singular.
Man - Men
Goose - Geese
Woman - Women
Mouse - Mice
Foot - Feet
Tooth - Teeth
