MAKING SINGULAR NOUNS PLURAL

An apple

Two apples

A peach

Two peaches

BUT

What are the rules?

Rule 1: Most words become pluralby adding –s

• Pencil• Book • Chair• Boy• Pen

PencilsBooksChairsBoysPens

Rule 2: Words that end in -ch, -sh, -x, -ss, -o add -es

• watch• brush• box• boss• tomato

watchbrushboxbosstomato

eses

eses

es

Rule 3: Words that end in a consonant + -y drop the –y and add -ies

• ferr• famil• dictionar• countr

iesferrfamildictionarcountr

yy

y

y

iesies

ies

Rule 3: Words that end in a consonant + -y drop the –y and add -ies

• ferr• famil• dictionar• countr

iesferrfamildictionarcountr

yy

y

y

iesies

ies

Rule 4: Words that end in –f or -fe drop the –f and add -ves

• wi• kni• li• lea

veswiknililea

fefe

fe

f

vesves

ves

Rule 4: Words that end in –f or -fe drop the –f and add -ves

• wi• kni• li• lea

veswiknililea

fefe

fe

f

vesves

ves

Rule 4: Words that end in –f or -fe drop the –f and add -ves

roof roofschef chefs

cafe cafes

EXCEPTIONS

Rule 5: There are some irregular plurals

• man• woman• person• child• foot• tooth• mouse

menwomenpeoplechildrenfeetteethmice