Plural Nouns

Nouns can take many forms. Two of those forms are singular and plural. This lesson will teach you the difference and how to make singular nouns plural.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Nouns can take several forms. Two of those forms are singular and plural. A singular noun names only one person, place, thing, or idea. A noun that names two or more people, places, things, or ideas is a plural noun. How do you make a singular noun plural? Most of the time making a singular noun plural is as simple as adding an s to the end of the word.

Singular	Plural
bird	birds
book	books
cat	cats
dog	dogs
pen	pens

However, some nouns don't follow this rule, and they're known as irregular nouns.

How do I change a singular irregular noun to plural? The next sections will help you answer this question.

Rules for Making Irregular Nouns Plural

Singular Nouns Ending with s, ss, ch, sh, x, or z

If a singular noun ends with s, ss, ch, sh, x, or z, add es to the end of the noun.

Examples

• walrus - walruses
• moss - mosses
• beach - beaches
• bush - bushes
• fox - foxes
• ditch - ditches

Singular Nouns Ending with o

How do I make a noun plural if it ends with an o?

If the singular noun ends with a vowel (the letters a, e, i, o, u) + o, most of the time you just add an s.

Examples

• kangaroo - kangaroos
• rodeo - rodeos
• video - videos

Many times, if a singular noun ends with a consonant + o, add an es at the end.

Consonants are all the letters of the alphabet except a, e, i, o, and u.

Examples

• domino - dominoes
• echo - echoes
• potato - potatoes

The best way to know how to correctly spell the plural form of a noun that ends in o is to look it up in a dictionary or online.

Consonant + y

If the singular noun ends in a consonant + y pattern, change the y to i and then add es.

• bunny - bunnies
• daisy - daisies
• kitty - kitties
• puppy - puppies

Vowel + y

If the singular noun ends in a vowel + y pattern, just add an s to the end of the word.

Examples

• days - days
• donkey - donkeys
• toy - toys

Singular Nouns Ending in f or fe

If the singular noun ends with a f or fe, change the f or fe to a v and then add es.

Examples

• life - lives
• wolf - wolves
• wife - wives

Both Singular and Plural

Some nouns have the same spelling in both the singular form and the plural form.

Example

• deer - deer
• moose - moose
• salmon - salmon

Plurals (1)

COPY THIS à

For most words you just need to add s
e.g. boy à boys

Turn these singular words into plurals.

1.                  car

2.                  pen

3.                  pig

4.                  dog

5.                  ball

6.                  coat

7.                  shoe

8.                  flag

9.                  book

10.              table

Turn these plurals into singular words.

11.              cats

12.              rulers

13.              bikes

14.              houses

15.              ducks

16.              goals

Plurals (2)

COPY THIS à

If words end in s, sh, ch or x then add es

e.g. box à boxes

Turn these singular words into plurals.

1.                  bush

2.                  glass

3.                  watch

4.                  church

5.                  brush

6.                  dish

7.                  witch

8.                  fox

9.                  beach

10.              wish

Turn these plurals into singular words.

11.              lunches

12.              beaches

13.              crashes

14.              sketches

15.              switches

16.              peaches

Plurals (5)

COPY THIS à

Some words change completely,

e.g. mouse à mice

Turn these singular words into plurals.

1.                  person

2.                  child

3.                  man

4.                  woman

5.                  tooth

6.                  goose

7.                  foot

8.                  ?

Extension Tasks

Can you find other examples of words that fit each of the rules?

Can you find any words that don’t fit these rules?

Plurals (3)

COPY THIS à

If words end in a consonant + y then get rid of the y and add ies
e.g. puppy à puppies

Turn these singular words into plurals.

1.                  penny

2.                  lolly

3.                  fairy

4.                  city

5.                  army

6.                  berry

7.                  jelly

8.                  party

9.                  baby

10.              fly

Turn these plurals into singular words.

11.              dollies

12.               

13.               

14.               

Plurals (4)

COPY THIS à

If words end in a vowel + y then just add s
e.g. key à keys

Turn these singular words into plurals.

1.                  monkey

2.                  key

3.                  day

4.                  donkey

COPY THIS à

If words end in f or fe then get rid of the f and add ves
e.g. half à halves

Turn these singular words into plurals.

1.                  half

2.                  leaf

3.                  knife

4.                  wife

5.                  life

6.                  calf

7.                  wolf

8.                  shelf

Plurals (6)

You will need to decide which spelling rule you use on each of these words.

Turn these singular words into plurals.

1.                  dolly

2.                  window

3.                  bunch

4.                  pig

5.                  tick

6.                  try

7.                  lip

8.                  wolf

9.                  box

10.              brolly

Turn these plurals into singular words.

11.              classes

12.              taxes

13.              friends

14.              jellies

Assessment

Underline the plural nouns.

1.   The windows are shut.

2.   There are cars in the park.

3.   A hen is a bird.

4.   There are eggs in the basket.

5.   Three birds are on the tree.

6.   The books are in the cupboard.

7.   My classroom is clean.

8.   Pupils are in the playground.

9.   The girl eats apples

10. I have a bicycle.