Nouns change their form to show number.
When only one person, place, animal, idea, or thing is being referred to, it is said to be in the singular number - bird, girl, toy, book, man, branch, etc.
When more than one person, place, animal, idea, or thing is being denoted, it is said to be in the plural number - birds, girls, toys, books, men, branches, etc.
The plural of a noun is generally formed by adding -s to the singular noun.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| one day | two days |
| one book | some books |
| one teacher | many teachers |
Most nouns that end in -s, -sh, -ch, -z, or -x form the plural by adding -es to the singular. If the word ends in a single -z, double the -z and add -es.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| one bus | some buses |
| one dish | more dishes |
| a church | several churches |
| one box | many boxes |
| a quiz | a number of quizzes |
Most nouns that end in -o form the plural by adding -es to the singular.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| zero | zeroes |
| echo | echoes |
| hero | heroes |
| potato | potatoes |
However, nouns ending in -o preceded by a vowel and words related to music ending in -o merely add -s to the singular.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| piano | pianos |
| radio | radios |
| solo | solos |
| ratio | ratios |
| igloo | igloos |