Singular, Plural, and Compound Nouns

There are different ways of forming the plural of nouns.

1. Add -s to most nouns.

Example:

  • souvenir - souvenirs

2. Add -es to nouns ending in -s, -x, -ch, -sh, and -z. If the word ends in a single z, double z, and add -es.

Examples:

  • bus - buses
  • box - boxes
  • church - churches
  • dish - dishes
  • quiz - quizzes

3. For nouns ending in -y preceded by a consonant, change y to i and add -es.

Example:

  • story - stories

4. For nouns ending in -y preceded by a vowel, just add -s.

Example:

  • key - keys

5. Form the plural of some nouns ending in -f by adding -s.

Example:

  • chef - chefs

6. Form the plural of other nouns ending in -f by changing f to v and adding -es.

Example:

  • loaf - loaves

7. Form the plural of nouns that also end in -f or -ff either by simply adding -s or by changing f or ff to v and adding -es.

Examples:

  • cliff - cliffs
  • dwarf - dwarfs, dwarves
  • staff - staffs, staves

8. Form the plural of some words that end in -fe by changing f to v and adding -s.

Example:

  • wife - wives

9. Form the plural of most nouns ending in -o by adding -es.

Example:

  • torpedo - torpedoes

10. Form the plural of a few nouns ending in -o by adding -s.

Example:

  • peso - pesos

11. Form the plural of some nouns ending in -o by adding either -s or -es.

Example:

  • zero - zeros, zeroes