What Is a Plural Noun?

Basic Rules for Forming Plural Nouns

To form the plural of most regular nouns, simply add -s to the end of the word:

• Cat → Cats

• Dog → Dogs

• Car → Cars

• Book → Books

• Tree → Trees

For nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add -es:

• Bus → Buses

• Dish → Dishes

• Box → Boxes

• Church → Churches

• Quiz → Quizzes

Pronunciation tips:

• For nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, the -es ending adds an extra syllable. For example, "buses" is pronounced "bus-ez."

Irregular Plural Nouns

Irregular plurals don't follow standard rules and must be memorized. Here are some common examples:

• Child → Children

• Man → Men

• Tooth → Teeth

• Foot → Feet

• Mouse → Mice

• Goose → Geese

Some nouns remain the same in both singular and plural forms:

• Deer → Deer

• Sheep → Sheep

• Fish → Fish (though "fishes" can be used to refer to different species)

• Moose → Moose

Tips for remembering irregular plural forms:

• Group similar irregular nouns together to make memorization easier. For example, pair "man" with "woman" (woman → women).

Special Cases and Exceptions

Nouns ending in -y:

If the noun ends in a consonant + y, change the -y to -ies:

• Lady → Ladies

• City → Cities

• Baby → Babies

If the noun ends in a vowel + y, simply add -s:

• Boy → Boys

• Day → Days

• Key → Keys

Nouns ending in -f or -fe:

Change the -f to -ves:

• Wolf → Wolves

• Knife → Knives

• Leaf → Leaves

• Life → Lives

Compound nouns often form plurals by adding -s to the principal word:

• Brother-in-law → Brothers-in-law

• Passerby → Passersby

• Mother-in-law → Mothers-in-law

• Secretary-general → Secretaries-general

Foreign plurals:

Some nouns of foreign origin retain their original plural forms:

• Cactus → Cacti

• Criterion → Criteria

• Bacterium → Bacteria

• Analysis → Analyses

• Thesis → Theses

Usage of Plural Nouns in Sentences

Using plural nouns correctly ensures your sentences make sense. Pay attention to subject-verb agreement. The verb must match the plural subject:

• The books are on the table.

• The children play in the park.

• The leaves are falling.

• The knives are sharp.

Avoid common mistakes like incorrect plural forms:

• Incorrect: Childs

• Correct: Children

• Incorrect: Mouses

• Correct: Mice

• Incorrect: Tooths

• Correct: Teeth

Practice with sentences to reinforce your understanding:

• There are many buses on the street.

• She has three sisters.

• The criteria for the job are strict.

• The geese are flying south for the winter.

• The data suggest a significant trend.

Advanced Plural Forms and Common Errors

Some nouns with Latin and Greek origins have unique plural forms:

• Appendix → Appendices

• Phenomenon → Phenomena

• Datum → Data

• Curriculum → Curricula

In technical and academic writing, precise plural forms are essential:

• Syllabus → Syllabi

• Thesis → Theses

• Hypothesis → Hypotheses

• Vertebra → Vertebrae

Explanation of collective nouns:

Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs based on the context. Use a singular verb when the group acts as a single unit and a plural verb when the individuals act separately.

• The team is winning. (as a single unit)

• The team are wearing their new jerseys. (as individuals)

• The committee has made its decision. (single unit)

• The committee have different opinions. (individual members)

Common pitfalls and tricky plural forms to watch out for:

• Media (plural of medium)

• Alumni (plural of alumnus)

• Cacti (plural of cactus)

• Criteria (plural of criterion)

• Bacteria (plural of bacterium)

Related Articles

• Possessive Nouns
• Irregular Nouns
  
• Irregular Noun Examples