Nouns

plural (more than one)

Nouns can be singular (one only) or plural (more than one). To make most nouns
plural add s at the end of them, eg gardens, chairs, cups, papers, girls. However
there are some exceptions.

Other general rules for making words plural

Words ending in: Rule Examples Exceptions

words that end in e add s houses, games, tables

words that end in oo add s cuckoos, igloos, zoos

words that end in ch, churches, glasses,

add es
sh, s, ss or x foxes, dishes

tomatoes, heroes, photos, pianos,

words that end in o add es
volcanoes radios, kilos

words that end in a

vowel and y (eg ay, add s keys, boys, monkeys
ey, oy )

words that end in a story – stories, sky –

consonant + y change the y to i and skies, baby – babies,
(eg phy, ly, gy, ty, fy, add es family – families,
py, ky, by, ry) trophy – trophies

words that end in f change the f to v and shelf – shelves, loaf – roof – roofs, cliff –
or fe add es loaves, cliffs, chief – chiefs

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 Other interesting plurals

some words remain the same sheep, bread, weather, paper,

for singular and plural grapefruit, information

trousers, scissors, tweezers,

some words are always plural
politics, riches, police, news

tooth – teeth, mouse – mice,

some words have a different
woman – women, man – men,
form for the plural
child – children

compound nouns usually have handbags, brothers-in-law,

cupfuls, spoonfuls, bucketfuls
the base word as a plural runners-up, lookers-on

For more homework help, tips and info sheets go to www.schoolatoz.com.au

© Owned by State of NSW through the Department of Education and Communities 2011. This work may be freely reproduced and distributed 2/2
for non-commercial educational purposes only. Permission must be received from the department for all other uses.