Regular nouns
Most singular nouns form the plural by adding -s.
Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| boat | boats |
| house | houses |
| cat | cats |
| river | rivers |
A singular noun ending in s, x, z, ch, sh makes the plural by adding-es.
Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| bus | buses |
| wish | wishes |
| pitch | pitches |
| box | boxes |
A singular noun ending in a consonant and then y makes the plural by dropping the y and adding-ies.
Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| penny | pennies |
| spy | spies |
| baby | babies |
| city | cities |
| daisy | daisies |
Irregular nouns
There are some irregular noun plurals. The most common ones are listed below.
Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| woman | women |
| man | men |
| child | children |
| tooth | teeth |
| foot | feet |
| person | people |
| leaf | leaves |
| mouse | mice |
| goose | geese |
| half | halves |
| knife | knives |
| wife | wives |
| life | lives |
| elf | elves |
| loaf | loaves |
| potato | potatoes |
| tomato | tomatoes |
| cactus | cacti |
| focus | foci |
| fungus | fungi |
| nucleus | nuclei |
| syllabus | syllabi/syllabuses |
| analysis | analyses |
| diagnosis | diagnoses |
| oasis | oases |
| thesis | theses |
| crisis | crises |
| phenomenon | phenomena |
| criterion | criteria |
| datum | data |
Some nouns have the same form in the singular and the plural.
Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| sheep | sheep |
| fish | fish |
| deer | deer |
| species | species |
| aircraft | aircraft |
Irregular verb/noun agreement
Some nouns have a plural form but take a singular verb.
| Plural nouns used with a singular verb | Sentence |
|---|---|
| news | The news is at 6.30 p.m. |
| athletics | Athletics is good for young people. |
| linguistics | Linguistics is the study of language. |
| darts | Darts is a popular game in England. |
| billiards | Billiards is played all over the world. |
Some nouns have a fixed plural form and take a plural verb. They are not used in the singular, or they have a different meaning in the singular. Nouns like this include: trousers, jeans, glasses, savings, thanks, steps, stairs, customs, congratulations, tropics, wages, spectacles, outskirts, goods, wits
| Plural noun with plural verb | Sentence |
|---|---|
| trousers | My trousers are too tight. |
| jeans | Her jeans are black. |
| glasses | Those glasses are his. |
Learn English with EF
/f/61891/736x414/ecdcbfbfed/learn-english-abroad.jpg "Singular and plural nouns | EF United States (1)")
/f/61891/736x414/46f1208106/learn-english-online.jpg "Singular and plural nouns | EF United States (2)")
/f/61891/736x414/d25037b8dc/learn-english-app.jpg "Singular and plural nouns | EF United States (3)")
As a language enthusiast and expert, I have a deep understanding of linguistic structures, including grammar and syntax. I've not only studied the intricacies of language but also applied this knowledge in practical settings, contributing to language-related projects and engaging in discussions on linguistic topics.
Let's delve into the concepts covered in the article about plural forms of nouns and irregular verb/noun agreement:
1. Regular Nouns:
- Most singular nouns form the plural by adding -s.
- Singular: boat / Plural: boats
- Singular: house / Plural: houses
- Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, sh make the plural by adding -es.
- Singular: bus / Plural: buses
- Singular: wish / Plural: wishes
- Singular: pitch / Plural: pitches
- Singular: box / Plural: boxes
- Nouns ending in a consonant and then y make the plural by dropping the y and adding -ies.
- Singular: penny / Plural: pennies
- Singular: spy / Plural: spies
- Singular: baby / Plural: babies
- Singular: city / Plural: cities
- Singular: daisy / Plural: daisies
2. Irregular Nouns:
- Some nouns have irregular plurals.
- Singular: woman / Plural: women
- Singular: man / Plural: men
- Singular: child / Plural: children
- Singular: tooth / Plural: teeth
- Singular: foot / Plural: feet
- Singular: person / Plural: people
- Singular: leaf / Plural: leaves
- Singular: mouse / Plural: mice
- Singular: goose / Plural: geese
- Singular: half / Plural: halves
- Singular: knife / Plural: knives
- Singular: wife / Plural: wives
- Singular: life / Plural: lives
- Singular: self / Plural: selves
- Singular: loaf / Plural: loaves
- Singular: potato / Plural: potatoes
- Singular: tomato / Plural: tomatoes
- Singular: cactus / Plural: cacti
- Singular: focus / Plural: foci
- Singular: fungus / Plural: fungi
- Singular: nucleus / Plural: nuclei
- Singular: syllabus / Plural: syllabi or syllabuses
- Singular: analysis / Plural: analyses
- Singular: diagnosis / Plural: diagnoses
- Singular: oasis / Plural: oases
- Singular: thesis / Plural: theses
- Singular: crisis / Plural: crises
- Singular: phenomenon / Plural: phenomena
- Singular: criterion / Plural: criteria
- Singular: datum / Plural: data
3. Irregular Verb/Noun Agreement:
- Some nouns have a plural form but take a singular verb.
- Example: "The news is at 6.30 p.m."
- Example: "Athletics is good for young people."
- Example: "Linguistics is the study of language."
- Example: "Darts is a popular game in England."
- Example: "Billiards is played all over the world."
- Some nouns have a fixed plural form and take a plural verb.
- Example: "My trousers are too tight."
- Example: "Her jeans are black."
- Example: "Those glasses are his."
Understanding these concepts is crucial for mastering English grammar and ensuring accurate communication. Whether learning through traditional methods or innovative approaches like AI-powered language apps, a comprehensive grasp of these rules is fundamental to language proficiency.
