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Nouns & Plurals

Forming the plural in English

Add -s to form most plurals

The default plural is formed by adding -s.

📊 Plural rules
Ending Change Example
most words + s books
-s/-sh/-ch/-x/-z + es buses
consonant + y y → ies cities
-f/-fe f → ves leaves
💬 Examples
book → books
singular → plural by adding s
📝 regular plural
car → cars
singular → plural by adding s
📝 regular plural
Add -es after -s -sh -ch -x -z

These endings need -es for pronunciation clarity.

💬 Examples
bus → buses
singular → plural by adding es
📝 + es after -s
watch → watches
singular → plural by adding es
📝 + es after -ch
Some plurals are irregular

Common nouns have unpredictable plural forms.

💬 Examples
man → men
singular → plural — vowel changes
📝 vowel change
child → children
singular → plural — irregular form
📝 irregular suffix