Prepared by:

Instructor: Wasan H. Ibrahim, PhD

Plural Nouns:
A noun that names more than one thing is a plural noun.

1. Most plural nouns are made by adding (-s) to the singular noun:

• cat → cats
• bear → bears
• zebra → zebras
• book → books

2. However, Add (-es) to the nouns that end with (s, z, sh, ch, x, z):

• class → classes
• marsh → marshes
• fox → foxes
• church → churches
3. Nouns that end with (consonant+y) change the (y) to (i) and add (-es):
• sky → skies
• candy → candies
• lady → ladies
• city → cities

4. Nouns that end with (vowel+y), you simply add an –s.

• boy → boys
• donkey → donkeys
• day → days
• radio → radios

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

• leaf → leaves
• life → lives
• wife → wives
Exceptions:
• chef → chefs

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Prepared by:
Instructor: Wasan H. Ibrahim, PhD

• chief → chiefs
• roof → roofs

6. Nouns that end with (consonant+o), add (-es):

• potato → potatoes
• hero → heroes
• tomato → tomatoes
Exceptions:
• piano → pianos
• photo → photos

7. No-change plural nouns:

• sheep
• fish
• deer

8. Singular –us; Plural –i

• cactus → cacti
• fungus → fungi
• syllabus → syllabi

9. Singular –on, –um; Plural –a

• criterion → criteria
• bacterium → bacteria
• medium → media

10.Singular –is; Plural –es

• analysis → analyses
• crisis → crises
• thesis → theses

11. Other irregular plural nouns:

child →children
man →men
woman →women
mouse →mice
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Prepared by:
Instructor: Wasan H. Ibrahim, PhD

tooth →teeth
foot →feet
person →people