Singular and Plural Nouns; Possessive Nouns

To form plural nouns

• add -s to most singular nouns (boy, boys).
• add -es to singular nouns ending in x, ch, sh, s, or ss (box, boxes; lunch,
lunches; guess, guesses).
• change y to i and add -es to singular nouns that end in a consonant
and y (cherry, cherries).
• change f to v and add -es to most nouns that end in f or fe
(knife, knives).

Some nouns have irregular plurals (child, children; mouse, mice).

To form possessive nouns

• add ’s to form most singular possessive nouns (Jeff’s).
• add only an apostrophe to plural nouns that end in s (dolphins’).
• add ’s to form the plural of most irregular nouns (children’s).

1. Joelle picked six lilies and five roses. (change y to i and add -es; add -s)

2. It was days before the ponies and foxes were found. (add -s; change y to i
and add -es; add -es)
3. Three wolves chased the mice. (change f to v and add -es; change the spelling
from mouse to mice)
4. The children caught many trout. (change the spelling of child to children; the
singular and plural are spelled the same)
5. The girls jackets were left on the bus. (girls’)

6. My dog leash and bowl are lost. (dog’s)

7. The lion tracks were everywhere. (lion’s)

© Harcourt

8. The women shoes were in the back of Joaquin shop. (women’s, Joaquin’s)

Grade 6, Lesson 15 LA95 Grammar

LXENL08ATP6X_L15.indd LA95 2/6/07 12:59:47 PM