Plural Nouns
Master the rules for making nouns plural in English
What Are Plural Nouns?
Plural nouns are words that refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. In English, most nouns become plural by adding "-s" or "-es" to the singular form.
Understanding plural noun rules is essential for proper grammar and clear communication in both speaking and writing.
Basic Plural Rules
Add -s
Most nouns simply add "-s"
cat → cats
book → books
tree → trees
Add -es
Nouns ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -z
bus → buses
dish → dishes
box → boxes
Special Cases
Nouns Ending in -y
Change -y to -i and add -es (if consonant before -y)
baby → babies
city → cities
boy → boys (vowel before -y)
Nouns Ending in -f or -fe
Change -f/-fe to -ves
leaf → leaves
wife → wives
roof → roofs (some exceptions)
Irregular Plurals
Completely different plural forms
child → children
foot → feet
tooth → teeth
Compound Nouns
Pluralize Main Word
Usually the main noun gets pluralized
mother-in-law → mothers-in-law
passer-by → passers-by
Both Words Plural
Some compound nouns pluralize both parts
woman doctor → women doctors
man servant → men servants
Interactive Quizzes
Quiz 1: Basic Plural Forms
Make these nouns plural:
1. dog
Answer: dogs
2. church
Answer: churches
3. baby
Answer: babies
Quiz 2: Special Cases
Form the plural of these special nouns:
1. leaf
Answer: leaves
2. child
Answer: children
3. roof
Answer: roofs (exception to the rule)
Quiz 3: Compound Nouns
Make these compound nouns plural:
1. mother-in-law
Answer: mothers-in-law
2. woman doctor
Answer: women doctors
3. passer-by
Answer: passers-by
Quiz 4: Mixed Challenge
Identify the correct plural form:
1. Which is correct: "The childs are playing" or "The children are playing"?
Answer: "The children are playing" (irregular plural)
2. Which is correct: "I have two lifes" or "I have two lives"?
Answer: "I have two lives" (change -f to -ves)
Important Notes
• Some nouns have the same singular and plural forms (e.g., sheep, deer, fish).
• Nouns borrowed from other languages may follow different pluralization rules.
• Always check a dictionary when unsure about irregular plural forms.
• Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on context.
Pro Tip
When in doubt about a plural form, try to think of the word in a sentence. For example, "I see one child" vs. "I see many children."