PLURALIZATION OF NOUNS

1. Most nouns f o rm the p lu ra l by add

s to
ingthe singular.
picture = pictures

2. Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, and sh form the plural by adding es to the

singular.
box = boxes

3. Nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant form the plural by

changing the y to i and adding es.
lily = lilies

Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel form the plural by adding s to

the singular
monkey = monkeys

4. The following nouns form the plural by changing the f or fe to ves.

calf, elf, half, knife, leaf, life, loaf, self, shelf, thief, wife, wolf

5. Nouns ending in o:
a. All nouns ending in o preceded by a vowel form the plural by
adding s to the singular.
trio = trios

b. Nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant generally form the

plural by adding s to the singular.
tomato = tomatoes

c. Some nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant may form the

plural by adding s to the singular.
piano = pianos
 d. Some nouns end ing i no preceded by a consonant may form the
plural by adding s or es to the singular.
cargo = cargo, cargoes

6. A few nouns form the plural by a change within the singular.

tooth = teeth

7. A few nouns form the plural by the addition of the Old English ending
en.
ox = oxen

8. A few nouns retain the same form in the plural as in the singular.
series, deer, sheep, species, salmon, Chinese, Japanese

9. Some nouns are used only in the plural.

clothes, pants, goods, scissors, tweezers, jeans, shorts

10. Some nouns are plural in form, but singular in meaning.

news, measles, mumps, mathematics, physics

Write the plura l of each of the fo l lowing nouns:

chief sheep Portuguese
notebook goose baby
army potatofox
valley ox courtesy
knife sigh peach