Singular and Plural Nouns: Examples

A singular noun refers to one item; a plural refers to more than one. English uses regular endings and a number of irregular plural forms.

Singular vs Plural: The Basics

Singular means ONE. Plural means MORE THAN ONE. Most plural nouns are formed by adding -S, but there are many exceptions!

Rule 1: Add -S (Most Common)

book → books

💡 Just add -s

car → cars

💡 Just add -s

dog → dogs

💡 Just add -s

table → tables

💡 Just add -s

phone → phones

💡 Just add -s

computer → computers

💡 Just add -s

Rule 2: Add -ES (After S, SH, CH, X, Z)

If the word ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add -ES because -s alone would be hard to pronounce:

bus → buses

💡 Ends in -s, add -es

glass → glasses

💡 Ends in -s, add -es

brush → brushes

💡 Ends in -sh, add -es

dish → dishes

💡 Ends in -sh, add -es

watch → watches

💡 Ends in -ch, add -es

church → churches

💡 Ends in -ch, add -es

box → boxes

💡 Ends in -x, add -es

quiz → quizzes

💡 Ends in -z, add -es (and double z)

Rule 3: Consonant + Y → Change Y to -IES

baby → babies

💡 Consonant B + y → ies

city → cities

💡 Consonant T + y → ies

story → stories

💡 Consonant R + y → ies

country → countries

💡 Consonant R + y → ies

fly → flies

💡 Consonant L + y → ies

lady → ladies

💡 Consonant D + y → ies

Rule 4: Vowel + Y → Just Add -S

boy → boys

💡 Vowel O + y → just add -s

day → days

💡 Vowel A + y → just add -s

key → keys

💡 Vowel E + y → just add -s

toy → toys

💡 Vowel O + y → just add -s

monkey → monkeys

💡 Vowel E + y → just add -s

donkey → donkeys

💡 Vowel E + y → just add -s

Rule 5: Words Ending in -F or -FE → Change to -VES

knife → knives

💡 -fe becomes -ves

wife → wives

💡 -fe becomes -ves

life → lives

💡 -fe becomes -ves

leaf → leaves

💡 -f becomes -ves

half → halves

💡 -f becomes -ves

shelf → shelves

💡 -f becomes -ves

Irregular Plurals (Must Memorize!)

Singular	Plural	Memory Tip
man	men	A becomes E
woman	women	A becomes E
child	children	Add -ren
foot	feet	OO becomes EE
tooth	teeth	OO becomes EE
goose	geese	OO becomes EE
mouse	mice	OUSE becomes ICE
person	people	Completely different word
fish	fish	Same word!
sheep	sheep	Same word!
deer	deer	Same word!

Continue learning

Countable and Uncountable Nouns · Subject–Verb Agreement: Rules and Examples

Practice in the 30 Days English Challenge: Day 9: Reflexive Pronouns and Nouns: A Practical Guide