In English, forming the plural of nouns can be a bit tricky due to the variety of rules and exceptions. Let's dive into some common ways to make nouns plural.

Common Rules for Plurals

  1. Add -s or -es: Most nouns simply add -s to form the plural.

    • Single vowel: Add -s. Cat → Cats
    • Consonant ending: Add -es. Child → Children

  2. Irregular Plurals: Some nouns have irregular plural forms.

    • Man → Men
    • Mouse → Mice
    • Tooth → Teeth

  3. Vowel Change: In some cases, the vowel changes when forming the plural.

    • Foot → Feet
    • Person → People

Exceptions and Special Cases

  • Words ending in -f or -fe: Add -ves.

    • Leaf → Leaves
    • Life → Lives

  • Words ending in -y: Change the -y to -ies.

    • City → Cities
    • Party → Parties

  • Words ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z: Add -es.

    • Bus → Buses
    • Brush → Brushes

Examples

Here are some examples of common nouns and their plural forms:

  • Cat → Cats
  • Child → Children
  • Man → Men
  • Mouse → Mice
  • Foot → Feet
  • Person → People
  • Leaf → Leaves
  • Life → Lives
  • Bus → Buses
  • Brush → Brushes

For more information on English grammar, check out our Grammar Resources.

Grammar Book