Most nouns in English have both singular and plural forms, and the
plural is usually formed by adding "-s" to the singular. Most nouns in
English have both singular and plural forms, and the plural is usually
formed by adding “-s” to the singular. This page explains the basic
ways of forming regular plurals in English. For information about
forming irregular plurals see IrrEgular Plurals of Nouns.
plural is usually formed by adding "-s" to the singular. Most nouns in
English have both singular and plural forms, and the plural is usually
formed by adding “-s” to the singular. This page explains the basic
ways of forming regular plurals in English. For information about
forming irregular plurals see IrrEgular Plurals of Nouns.
How to form the plural
Noun ending Forming the plural Example
Noun ending Forming the plural Example
s, x, ch or sh | Add -es | boss bosses tax taxes bush bushes |
consonant + y | Change y to i then add -es | baby babies candy candies curry curries |
most others | Add -s | cat cats face faces day days |
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Although most nouns have plurals formed according to regular rules (see Regular Plurals of Nouns), some nouns have unusual, or irregular plurals. This page will introduce the most common ones, so that you can learn them.
Types of irregular plural
There are many types of irregular plural, but these are the most common:
Ends with -fe | Change f to v then Add -s | knife knives life lives wife wives |
Ends with -f | Change f to v then Add -es | half halves wolf wolves loaf loaves |
Ends with -o | Add -es | potato potatoes tomato tomatoes volcano volcanoes |
ends with -us | Change -us to -i | cactus cacti nucleus nuclei focus foci |
ends with -is | Change -is to -es | analysis analyses crisis crises thesis theses |
ends with -on | Change -on to -a | phenomenon phenomena criterion criteria |
ALL KINDS | Change the vowel or Change the word or Add a different ending | man men foot feet child children person people tooth teeth mouse mice |
Unchanging | Singular and plural are the same | sheep deer fish (sometimes) |
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