Unit 6: Plural Nouns

Grammar Guide: Regular Plural Forms

A singular noun names one person, place, or thing. A plural noun names more than one. Here are the main spelling rules for forming plurals:

  • General Rule: Add -s to most nouns (e.g., scientist → scientists).
  • -es Rule: Add -es to nouns ending in s, ss, x, ch, or sh (e.g., box → boxes, bus → buses). Exceptions exist for words where ‘ch’ sounds like ‘k’ (e.g., monarch → monarchs).
  • -y Rule: If a noun ends in a consonant + y, change the y to i and add -es (e.g., baby → babies). If it ends in a vowel + y, just add -s (e.g., toy → toys).
  • -f/-fe Rule: For most nouns ending in f or fe, change the f to v and add -es (e.g., knife → knives). Exceptions include roofs, beliefs, chiefs.
  • -o Rule: Nouns ending in a consonant + o often take -es (e.g., hero → heroes). However, many musical terms or vowel + o words just add -s (e.g., pianos, radios).
Illustration 1
Exercise 1: Regular Plurals (+s)

Write the plural form of the following regular nouns.

1. tree → _________
2. blanket → _________
3. coworker → _________
4. friend → _________
5. kitten → _________
6. home → _________
7. game → _________
8. vegetable → _________
Exercise 2: The -es Ending (s, x, ch, sh)

Form the plural for nouns ending in hissing sounds. Remember to add -es.

1. box → _________
2. wish → _________
3. bus → _________
4. church → _________
5. patch → _________
6. class → _________
7. lunch → _________
8. tax → _________
Exercise 3: The Y Rule (Consonant vs. Vowel)

Decide whether to change the y to i and add -es, or just add -s.

1. baby → _________
2. day → _________
3. family → _________
4. boy → _________
5. city → _________
6. country → _________
7. key → _________
8. story → _________
Illustration 2
Exercise 4: Tricky Endings (f, fe, o)

Write the correct plural form for these nouns. Watch out for exceptions!

1. leaf → _________
2. roof → _________
3. potato → _________
4. radio → _________
5. knife → _________
6. shelf → _________
7. hero → _________
8. belief → _________
Exercise 5: Identification

Underlinethe singular nouns and circle the plural nouns in the list below.

1. dictionary
2. toes
3. inch
4. neighbors
5. haunches
6. robot
7. temple
8. blankets
Exercise 6: Correct the Sentence

Each sentence contains an incorrect plural noun. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

  1. The farmer has three donkeyes in the barn.
  2. Please putthe dishs on the counter.
  3. The thiefs took the valuable paintings.
  4. I took many photoes during my vacation.
  5. The monasterys are very old buildings.
  6. We need two halfs to make a whole.
  7. The pianoes in the music room needtuning.
  8. All the factorys are closed today.
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