Base Words 5

Our neighbors helped the new families move in. They unpacked (5) boxes and
put dishes and glasses on the shelves. One new family eat gave their new
friends fresh peaches for a treat.
The words aboye in heavy type are base words with the endings (9) s and es
added. The words neighbor, family, box, dish, glass, loo shelf, friend, and peaeh
are singular nouns that name only one to I person or thing. Plural nouns name
more than one when the endings s and es are added.
Not all plural nouns are formed the same way. Here are four rules for adding s
and es to base words to form plural nouns.
Rule 1:
The plural s of sorne nouns are formed simply by adding the
letter s to the base word (friendlfriends).
Rule 2:
If a singular no un ends in eh, sh, ss, x, or z, add the
ending es to form the plural (box/boxes).
Rule 3:
If a singular noun ends in a consonant and y, change the y
to i and add es to form the plural (family/
families).
Rule 4:
If a singular noun ends in f or fe, change the f or fe to v and
add the ending es to form the plural (shelf/
shelves).

Number your paper from 1 to 16. Read each sentence below and look at each
plural noun in heavy type. Then write the number of the rule that tells how to
form each plural. We brought some (1) apples and (2) oranges to eat on our
school field trip. We gave (3) halves of apples to the (4) birds. The (5) squirreIs
watched us from tree (6) branches. "Maybe they'll eat the (7) seeds too," Charo
said. "Did we bring enough (8) supplies?" Erik asked. We had several (9) books
of (10) matches, but they got wet. So we began to look for (11) nuts and (12)
berries. "This is more fun than going to (13) classes," Margo said.
"1 wish we could see sorne (14) woIves or (15) foxes," said Tam. We had to tell
him that (16) wishes seldom come true.
Number your paper from 17 to 28. Look at each word listed below naming one
person or thing. Write the correct plural form of each word.
17.
fly
23. tax
18.
acom 24.
cherry
19.
life
25.
spy
20.
patch 26.
braid
21.
bush 27.
bushel
22.
witch 28.
thief
Number your paper from 29 to 38. Change the following singular base words in
heavy type to plurals by adding the correct ending. Write the new word.
29. two copy
30. most pIane

35.

34.
sorne gIass
my sister

31. all the park bench

36.
32. a pair of canary
37.
33. six knife
38.

two wife
several inch
many church