- English
- English Grammar
- Parts of Speech
- Nouns
- Plural Noun
In the English language, nouns are divided into singular and plural nouns based on their number. This division is applicable only to common nouns as all proper nouns refer to a particular place or person; in fact, that is why they are called proper nouns. Read on to learn about plural nouns, their definitions, rules and examples in detail.
Table of Contents
- Definition of a Plural Noun
- Changing a Singular Noun to a Plural Noun
- Adding ‘s’
- Adding ‘es’
- Adding ‘ves’ for nouns ending with an ‘f’ or ‘fe’
- Adding ‘oes’ to nouns ending with an ‘o’
- Adding ‘ies’ to words ending with a ‘y’ preceded by a consonant
- Adding ‘s’ to words ending with a ‘y’ preceded by a vowel
- Changing ‘us’ to ‘i’
- Changing ‘is’ to ‘es’
- Changing ‘on’ to ‘a’
- Nouns with a common singular and plural form
- Irregular nouns
- Plural form for hyphenated nouns and relationships
- Plural Noun Examples
- The Golden Rule of Using Plural Nouns in Sentences – Subject-Verb Agreement
- Plural Nouns and Tense Forms
- Test Your Knowledge
- Frequently Asked Questions on Plural Nouns
Definition of a Plural Noun
The word plural is defined as ‘relating to or constituting a class of grammatical forms usually used to denote more than one or in some languages more than two’ and ‘relating to, consisting of, or containing more than one or more than one kind or class’, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. So a noun that consists or relates to more than one person, place or thing can be defined as a plural noun.
Changing a Singular Noun to a Plural Noun
A common noun can be made plural by adding an ‘s’, ‘es’, ‘ies’, ‘ves’; by changing ‘us’ to ‘i’, ‘is’ to ‘es’, ‘on’ to ‘a’ and so on. There are some common nouns that remain the same in the singular and plural forms. A few others do not fall under any other category of plural nouns. They are termed irregular nouns. These common nouns can be made plural by a change in the spelling or by the addition of a suffix to the root word.
Check out the following examples of plural nouns for a better understanding.
Examples:
- Adding ‘es’
- Box – boxes
- Tax – taxes
- Bus – buses
- Adding ‘es’
- Adding ‘ves’ for nouns ending with an ‘f’ or ‘fe’
- Wolf – wolves
- Calf – calves
- Knife – knives
- Wife – wives
- Adding ‘ves’ for nouns ending with an ‘f’ or ‘fe’
- Adding ‘es’ to nouns ending with an ‘o’
- Mango – mangoes
- Potato – potatoes
- Tomato – tomatoes
- Mosquito – mosquitoes
- Volcano – volcanoes
- Adding ‘es’ to nouns ending with an ‘o’
- Adding ‘ies’ to words ending with a ‘y’ preceded by a consonant
- City – cities
- Strawberry – strawberries
- Puppy – puppies
- Adding ‘ies’ to words ending with a ‘y’ preceded by a consonant
- Adding ‘s’ to words ending with a ‘y’ preceded by a vowel
- Ray – rays
- Toy – toys
- Boy – boys
- Adding ‘s’ to words ending with a ‘y’ preceded by a vowel
- Changing ‘us’ to ‘i’
- Alumnus – alumni
- Syllabus – syllabi
- Cactus – cacti
- Fungus – fungi
- Nucleus – nuclei
- Changing ‘us’ to ‘i’
- Changing ‘is’ to ‘es’
- Crisis – crises
- Analysis – analyses
- Diagnosis – diagnoses
- Thesis – theses
- Changing ‘is’ to ‘es’
- Changing ‘on’ to ‘a’
- Criterion – criteria
- Phenomenon – phenomena
- Changing ‘on’ to ‘a’
- Nouns with a common singular and plural form
- News – news
- Scissors – scissors
- Furniture – furniture
- Deer – deer
- Fish – fish
- Police – police
- Sheep – sheep
- Nouns with a common singular and plural form
- Plural form for hyphenated nouns and relationships
- Mother-in-law – Mothers-in-law
- Father-in-law – Fathers-in-law
- Brother-in-law – Brothers-in-law
- Daughter-in-law – Daughters-in-law
- Son-in-law – Sons-in-law
- Grandmother – grandmothers
- Grandfather – grandfathers
- Grandson – grandsons
- Granddaughter – granddaughters
- Cousin – cousins
- Brother – brothers
- Sister – sisters
- Uncle – uncles
- Aunty – Aunties
- Aunt – Aunts
- Plural form for hyphenated nouns and relationships
Plural Noun Examples
- Plural noun of child – children
- Plural noun of fox – foxes
- Plural noun of loaf – loaves
- Plural noun of ship – ships
- Plural noun of school – schools
- Plural noun of door – doors
- Plural noun of sister-in-law – sisters-in-law
- Plural form of baby – babies
The Golden Rule of Using Plural Nouns in Sentences – Subject-Verb Agreement
When using plural nouns, take care to change the verb accordingly so that the sentences do not look grammatically incorrect. The verbs forms used along with a plural noun include, are (simple present tense), were (simple past tense), are+verb+ing, were+verb+ing, have+past participle, have+been+past participle, will+have+verb+ing and will+have+past participle.
Examples:
- None of the students has completed their homework. (Group of people)
- All the rescued animals have been returned to their natural habitats safely. (Group of different animals)
- The textbooks and notebooks are kept on the shelves. (Objects)
- All schools in the city are shut down due to the political protests carried out in and around the city.
Plural Nouns and Tense Forms
Here are some examples to show you how everyday nouns can be used in different tense forms.
Please note that the words in bold are the plural nouns and the words in italics are the appropriate tense forms.
S. No. | Tense | Plural Form |
1 | Simple Present Tense |
|
2 | Present Continuous Tense |
|
3 | Present Perfect Tense |
|
4 | Present Perfect Continuous Tense |
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5 | Simple Past Tense |
|
6 | Past Continuous Tense |
|
7 | Past Perfect Tense (remains the same for singular and plural nouns) |
|
8 | Past Perfect Continuous Tense (remains the same for singular and plural nouns) |
|
9 | Simple Future Tense (remains the same for singular and plural nouns) |
|
10 | Future Continuous Tense (remains the same for singular and plural nouns) |
|
11 | Future Perfect Tense (remains the same for singular and plural nouns) |
|
12 | Future Perfect Continuous Tense (remains the same for singular and plural nouns) |
|
Test Your Knowledge
Change the highlighted nouns in the following sentences into the plural form and use the appropriate form of the verb:
- That girl plays the piano.
- I bought a mango.
- The teacher will be here in a few minutes.
- The scholar has been working on the thesis for five months now.
- Teena brought home a puppy.
- The boy was playing cricket.
- The cat was adopted.
- Sadie had an orange for breakfast.
- Dave picked up a flower for his mom.
- Tom likes having fruit for dinner.
Check your answers here:
- Those girls play the piano.
- I bought some mangoes.
- The teachers will be here in a few minutes.
- The scholars have been working on the thesis for five minutes now.
- Teena brought home puppies.
- The boys were playing cricket.
- The cats were adopted.
- Sadie had oranges for breakfast.
- Dave picked up flowers for his mom.
- Tom likes having fruits for dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions on Plural Nouns
Q1
What is a plural noun?
A noun that consists or relates to more than one person, place or thing can be defined as a plural noun.
Q2
How can I change a singular noun into a plural noun?
You can change a singular noun into plural nouns by adding an ‘s’, ‘es’, ‘ies’, ‘ves’, by changing the spelling or by adding a suffix.
ENGLISH Related Links | |
Formal Application Format | What Is Letter Writing |
Noun | Pronoun |
What Is An Adjective | Verb |
Learn English | Independence Day Speech In English |
Proper Noun Examples | Speech Topics |
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As an expert in English grammar and language, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion of plural nouns. My expertise is rooted in a deep understanding of linguistic principles and a comprehensive study of grammar rules. I've extensively explored the nuances of English, including parts of speech, noun forms, and grammatical structures.
Let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:
1. English Grammar: English grammar is the set of rules that govern the structure of the English language. It includes various components such as syntax, semantics, punctuation, and, notably, the rules for forming plural nouns.
2. Parts of Speech: Nouns, a fundamental part of speech, are words that denote a person, place, thing, or idea. Understanding their singular and plural forms is crucial for effective communication.
3. Nouns: Nouns are classified into singular and plural based on their number. Common nouns can be further categorized into regular and irregular plurals, each with specific rules for formation.
4. Plural Noun: A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. The article discusses various rules and examples for converting singular nouns to their plural forms.
5. Plural Noun Examples: The provided examples illustrate the application of different rules for forming plural nouns, including adding 's,' 'es,' 'ies,' 'ves,' and other variations.
6. Subject-Verb Agreement: The golden rule of using plural nouns involves ensuring proper subject-verb agreement. The article emphasizes the importance of adjusting verb forms when using plural nouns to maintain grammatical correctness.
7. Tense Forms with Plural Nouns: The article explores how plural nouns can be used in various tense forms, demonstrating their flexibility across different time frames, from simple present tense to future perfect continuous tense.
8. Test Your Knowledge: The interactive section challenges readers to apply their understanding by changing highlighted nouns into their plural forms and adjusting verb forms accordingly.
9. Frequently Asked Questions: The FAQ section addresses common queries about plural nouns, providing concise and informative answers to enhance readers' comprehension.
In conclusion, my comprehensive knowledge of English grammar allows me to navigate and explain the intricacies of plural nouns, ensuring a thorough understanding for learners and enthusiasts alike.