Making Plural Nouns in English:

It’s more than just adding s!

You surely know that in order to change a singular noun to its plural form in English, you usually add s. But there are many cases where this is not the case. This review will lead you through the more important grammar rules you should know in order to improve your English writing and avoid mistakes in turning singular nouns to their plural form.

Remember that only count-nouns actually have plural forms. Count-nouns represent items that exist in separated units you can count, such as apples, songs, or children. Non-count nouns represent items existing as a mass, such as powders and liquids ( sand, water) or concepts ( honesty, economics). In addition, unlike a singular count-noun that must have at least a/an as a determiner ( This is an apple), plural count nouns can appear without a determiner ( I like apples).

There may be accepted alternative spellings to the general rules presented below, so when in doubt, consult a dictionary. If a noun adds anything but a simple s to make the plural, then most dictionaries will show the special/ alternative plural forms. For example, a mango – mangos/ mangoes, and a scarf – scarfs/ scarves.

Spelling Rules for Adding the Plural S to Singular Nouns

• The general plurals rule: Usually add the letter s to the end of a singular noun to make it plural.

I’ll take this book; you can use those books over there.

We have one bedroom on the first floor and three more bedrooms on the second.

• In compound nouns, add s only to the main noun.

This family uses one air- conditioner and one washing machine . Their neighbors use three air- conditioners and two washing machines .

I have one son-in-law; my friend Frieda has three sons-in-law.

• Add es to a noun ending with a whistling sound ( s,sh,ch,x,z) to make it plural.

one bus – three buses, a church – many churches, a box – boxes, a buzz – buzzes

• If the singular noun ends with a consonant + y, drop the y, replace with an i and add es. Don’t drop the y, if the y is preceded by a vowel.

Yes: one city – two cities, a baby – babies, a country – countries

No: a toy – toys, a day – days

Note: If the noun ending with a y represents a person or a country, add only s in any case.

John F. Kennedy was the most famous of the Kennedys. In 1963, he didn’t visit the two Germanys after giving his speech in West-Berlin.

• If the singular noun ends with a consonant + o, add es. If the o is preceded by a vowel, only add s to make the plural form.

Yes: a potato – five potatoes, a hero – heroes, an echo – echoes

No: a radio – radios, a studio – studios, a kangaroo – kangaroos

Irregular Noun Plurals

1. Singular Nouns Ending with f/fe

• Some nouns ending with f, fe, drop this ending and add ves to make the plural form. There may be alternative spelling.

Yes : a knife – knives, one half – two halves, my life – their lives, a wolf – wolves.

No : one roof – roofs, a cliff – many cliffs, a safe – safes

Both : a dwarf – the seven dwarfs/ dwarves, one wharf – a few wharfs/ wharves

2. Unique Old English Plural Nouns

• These nouns have unique plural forms that survived from Old English. Learn them well according to the following groups, as they are in common use.

3. One Form for Singular & Plural

• Many nouns have identical forms for both singular and plural.

a sheep – sheep, a deer – deer, a moose – moose

a fish – fish (fishes, if used for different species of fish)

a dozen – two dozen roses, a hundred – several hundred men

( but: dozens of roses, hundreds of people)