4.1.2: Text- Regular Plural Nouns

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    Plural Nouns

    A plural noun indicates that there is more than one of that noun, while a singular noun indicates that there is just one. English has both regular and irregular plural nouns. Let’s start with regular plurals: regular plural nouns use established patterns to indicate there is more than one of a thing.

     

    Recognize nouns marked with plural form –s.

    1) We add the plural suffix –s to most words.

    • apple → apples
    • key → keys

    2) When a noun ends with a consonant + y, we change the y to ies.

    • baby --> babies
    • city --> cities

    3) However, when the word ends with a vowel + y, we only add -s.

    • boy -->boys
    • key --> keys

    4) We add the plural suffix –es to most words that end in o.

    • tomato → tomatoes
    • hero → heroes

    5) We add the plural suffix –s to words of foreign origin (Latin, Greek, Spanish, etc

    • piano → pianos
    • photo → photos
    • video → videos

    6) After sounds s, z, sh, ch, and j, we add the plural suffix –es.

    • box → boxes
    • wish → wishes
    • kiss → kisses

    7) When a word ends in –f or –fe, we change the f to v and add –es.

    • leaf → leaves
    • life → lives
    • scarf → scarves
    • calf → calves
    • loaf → loaves

       But not in these words

    • cliff → cliffs
    • roof → roofs
    • belief → beliefs
    • chief → chiefs

    Exercise 1.4: Words Ending in "y"

    Write the correct plurals for the following words.

    Singular Plural Singular Plural
    1. supply   4. play  
    2. monkey   5. lady  
    3. story   6. day  

    Exercise 1.5: Words Ending in "O"

    Write the correct plurals for the following words.

    Singular Plural Singular Plural
    1. solo   6. tornado  
    2. veto   7. photo  
    3. echo   8. radio  
    4. avocado   9. zero  
    5. studio   10. potato  

    lExercise 1.6 Words Ending in s, z, sh, ch, and j 

    Write the correct plurals for following words.

    Singular Plural Singular Plural
    1. peach   4. bus  
    2. chair   5. picture  
    3. quiz   6. watch  

    Exercise 1.7" Words Ending in "f"

    What are the correct plurals for the following words?

    Singular Plural Singular Plural
    1. wolf   5. self  
    2. chief   6. half  
    3. sheaf   7. roof  
    4. knife   8. thief  

    Exercise 1.8 Plural or No Plural 

    Add -s, or -es or change y to -ies to make nouns plural. If a plural form is not needed, write X. Remember: Only count nouns have plural forms.

    Sylvia's daughter, Marisa was about to turn ten, and Silvia wanted to have a special dinner for her. She made a list and headed out to buy everything she needed for Marisa's favorite meal. First, she went to a bakery. She ordered a beautiful cake decorated with strawberry_____ and pretty yellow daisy ____ (her favorite flower) and cookie _____ filled with creamy chocolate ____. Next, she went to the neighborhood grocery store. For dinner, she got chicken_____ , cheese_____ and fresh cream_____ to make Marisa's favorite dish, chicken with au gratin potato_____. She also bought ingredient___ for a large salad--several tomato____, avocado____, carrot____ and, of course, lettuce____. When Sylvia got home, she prepared the vegetable_____ for the salad and began to set up the birthday room and make the special meal. She prepared the chicken au gratin and put it in the hot oven to bake. In the dining room, she set the chair____ around the table, laid down her best tablecloth, and set the table with her best dish_____ silverware____, and glass____. Finally, she decorated the birthday room with colorful ribbon____ and balloon_____ in Marisa's favorite color, red. When Marisa came home that evening, she was so excited to see the beautiful birthday room and smell her favorite meal cooking in the kitchen. Soon, her dad came home with her sister and brothers, carrying several beautiful package_____ covered in pretty, red paper______ and shiny silver ribbon_____. The whole family sat down at the table and enjoyed a delicious meal. After dinner, Marisa blew out ten candle____ on the cake and made a wish while the family sang "Happy Birthday!" It was time for Marisa to open her present_____. She carefully opened each one and cried out with delight when she found all of the toy_____ and cloth_____ she had hoped for. It was a wonderful evening that everyone enjoyed!

    Revision and Adaptation. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

    Regular Plural Nouns. by Julie Sevastopoulos. from Grammar-Quizzes.com. Located at: http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/agree1a.html. License: CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

    Image of two men by: Gregor Cresnar. Provided by: The Noun Project. Located at: https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=people&i=176708. License: CC BY: Attribution

    This page titled 4.1.2: Text- Regular Plural Nouns was last modified on Mon, 06 Oct 2025 02:13:32 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allyson Marceau.