Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular Nouns A singular noun names one person, place, thing, or idea.

Plural Nouns A plural noun names more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Is the noun singular or plural?1. houses

plural 2. baby

singular

3. church singular

Is the noun singular or plural?1. tables

plural 2. books

plural

3. bus singular

Plurals of Regular NounsRULE

Add s. Add es.

Change y to i and add es.

EXAMPLE

fossil/fossils box/boxes beach/beaches lady/ladies fly/flies

Add es to make nouns plural that end with:

s bus◦buses

x tax◦taxes

ch bench◦benches

sh dish◦dishes

Change the y to an i and add es to make nouns plural that end with a consonant and a y:

lady◦ladies

fry◦fries

Plurals of Irregular NounsRULE

Change f to v and add s or es. Change the form.

No change.

EXAMPLE

shelf/shelves life/lives man/men tooth/teeth fish/fish deer/deer

Some nouns that end in f or fe change to ves when made plural:

calf◦calves

knife◦knives

Some nouns do not change at all when made plural:

sheep◦sheep

deer◦deer

Some nouns become a new word when made plural:

man◦men

goose◦geese

Can you make these nouns plural?half halvesfoot feetpiano pianosspy spies

Can you make these nouns plural?brush brushesmouse micememo memosshelf shelves

Can you make these nouns plural?child childrenleaf leavesthief thieveswoman women

Can you make these nouns plural?fish fishphoto photosdie dice