Plurals

Almost all common nouns can be plural

Most only need to add the letter”s” to the end

of the word

cars

mothershouse

s

names

sisters

dogs

cats

When the common noun finishes with the letters:

sss

sh chx

zWe must add

“es”glass glasses

brush brushes

watch watches

When a common noun finishes with the letter “o”, we distinguish that ones derive from Latin, old Greek or Italian, and the others.

video videos radio

radios

The words of Latin, old Greek or Italian origin follow the general rule: they add “s” to the end of singular.

photo photos

piano pianos

The other words form the plural by adding “es”

tomato tomatoes

potato potatoes

When the common noun finishes with letter “fe” or “f” ,we change the “f” in “v” and add “es”.

All the others became plural by

adding “s”.

safe safes

gulf gulfs

handkerchief handkerchiefs

roof roofs

chief chiefs

When the common noun finishes in “y” and is preceded by a vowel, the letter “y” remains the same and we add “s”, but if the “y” is preceded by a consonant, the “y” becomes “i” and we add “es”.

calf calves wolf wolves leaf leavesself selves loaf loaves wife wivesthief thieves half halveswatch watcheslife livesshelf shelves knife knives

policeman policemen

toy toys

lady ladies

boy boys

baby babies

monkey monkeys

fly flies

There also a group of common nouns which are irregular:

man men

gentleman gentlemen

woman women

policewoman policewomen

gentlewoman gentlewomen

child childrenperson people

tooth teeth

foot feet

goose geese ox oxen

louse lice

mouse mice