Properties of Nouns
Many irregular plurals of nouns are formed by changing the spelling and adding the suffix -s or -es.
1. Nouns ending with -y preceded by a consonant form the plural by changing -y into -i and adding -es.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| one baby | many babies |
| one family | several families |
| one entry | three entries |
2. However, nouns ending with -y and preceded by a vowel form the plural by simply adding -s.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| one day | two days |
| a key | many keys |
| one turkey | five turkeys |
Exception: Proper nouns ending with -y also form the plural by simply adding -s.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| July | Julys |
| Tony | Tonys |
| Kennedy | Kennedys |
3. Some nouns ending in -f or -fe form their plural by adding -s while a few change -f or -fe to -v and add -es.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| wife | wives |
| half | halves |
| shelf | shelves |
3. Some nouns ending in -f or -fe form their plural by adding -s while a few change -f or -fe to -v and add -es.
There are exceptions when such words form their plural by only adding -s.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| roof | roofs |
| chief | chiefs |
| belief | beliefs |
4. Some plural nouns are different in form from the singular word.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| woman | women |
| mouse | mice |
| child | children |
| ox | oxen |
5. Some nouns have the singular and plural alike - sheep, dozen, score, deer, aircraft, equipment, series, species, Chinese, etc.
6. Words borrowed from other languages form their plurals in the following ways:
Words ending in -a in singular end with -ae in plural but can also end in -s.
- amoeba - amoebas, amoebae
- larva - larvae
- antenna - antennas, antennae
Words ending in -ex or -ix in singular end with -ces in plural but can also end in -es.
- apex - apices, apexes
- cervix - cervices, cervixes
- appendix - appendices, appendixes
6. Words borrowed from other languages form their plurals in the following ways:
Words ending in -is in the singular end with -es in the plural.
- analysis - analyses
- axis - axes
- oasis - oases
Words ending in -on and -um in the singular end with -a in the plural.
- criterion - criteria
- phenomenon - phenomena
- memorandum - memoranda
- gymnasium - gymnasia
6. Words borrowed from other languages form their plurals in the following ways:
Words ending in -us in the singular end with -i in the plural.
- bacillus - bacilli
- cactus - cacti
- syllabus - syllabi
Exceptions: genus - genera; corpus - corpora
Words ending in -eau in the singular end with -eaux in the plural.
- plateau - plateaux
- burreau - burreaux
- beau - beaux
6. Words borrowed from other languages form their plurals in the following ways:
Some words end in -im in their plural form.
- cherub - cherubim
- seraph - seraphim
French words with a silent -s ending do not change their spelling for the plural form but the silent -s becomes a -z sound while speaking these words - chassis, chamois, corps, patios
7. The names of sciences ending in -s remain singular and take a singular verb - mathematics, economics, linguistics, politics, etc.
8. Nouns that form a phrase with a pair of are always plural in form - binoculars, scissors, trousers, eyeglasses, shorts, etc.
9. Some nouns are always used in the plural form and are not preceded by any number - archives, particulars, clothes, manners, shortcomings, etc.
10. Some nouns have a plural form but are singular in meaning and take a singular verb - checkers, news, tennis, mumps, measles, etc.
11. Mass nouns do not have a plural form. Usually, a unit of measurement is placed before them to form an expression.
- something that is not a liquid - a loaf of bread; a piece of advice
- referring to a piece or shape - a blade of grass; a bar of chocolate
- referring to a container - a sack of rice; a pail of water
- referring to a measure - a liter of oil; a yard of cloth
- more than one example of the mass - drops of water; pieces of paper
12. For compound nouns, only the principal or important word is made plural.
- sister-in-law - sisters-in-law
- schoolmaster - schoolmasters
- passerby - passersby
- footman - footmen
13. The plural of letters and figures is formed by adding -s - Bs, 20s, 5s, etc.
A dictionary will help you in learning more about plural nouns.