Regular Plural Nouns
Plural noun markers with -s
| -S | |
|---|---|
We add the plural suffix –s to most words. |
|
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
apple (æ-pul) |
apples (æ-pulz) |
book |
books |
chair |
chairs |
picture |
pictures |
page |
pages |
key |
keys |
computer |
computers |
| -ES | |
|---|---|
After the sounds s /s/, z /z/, sh /ʃ/, ch /tʃ/ and j /dʒ/, we add the plural suffix -es /ɪz/ |
|
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
box /bɒks/ |
boxes /bɒks-iz/ |
kiss |
kisses /kɪs-ɪz/ |
wish |
wishes /wɪʃ-ɪz/ |
watch |
watches /watʃ-ɪz/ |
buzz |
buzzes /bʌz-ɪz/ |
garage |
garages /gəˈrɑʒ-ɪz/ |
judge |
judges /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/ |
Plural Noun Markers after -o
| –ES | |
|---|---|
We add the plural suffix -es to most words that end in o. |
|
Singular  |
Plural  |
tomato /təˈmeɪtoʊ, -ˈmɑ-/ |
tomatoes /təˈmeɪtoʊz/ |
echo /ˈɛkoʊ/ |
echoes /ˈɛkoʊz/ |
potato |
potatoes /pəˈmeɪtoʊz/ |
hero |
heroes /ˈhɪəroʊz/ |
zero |
zeroes or zeros /ˈzɪəroʊz/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| –S | |
|---|---|
We add the plural suffix -s to words of foreign origin (latin, greek, etc.) |
|
Singular  |
Plural  |
piano |
pianos /piˈænoʊz, ˈpyænoʊz/ |
ghetto /ˈgɛtoʊ/ |
ghettos /ˈgɛtoʊz/ |
kilo /ˈkiloʊ/ |
kilos /ˈkɪloʊz/ |
video |
videos /ˈvɪdiˌoʊz/ |
soprano |
sopranos /səˈprænoʊz, -ˈprɑnoʊz/ |
solo |
solos /ˈsoʊloʊz/ |
auto /ˈɔtoʊ/ |
autos /ˈɔtoʊz/ |
photo /foʊtoʊ/ |
photos /ˈfoʊtoʊz/ |
Plural Noun Markers
After -Y and -F, -FE
| Y ⇒ I + ES | |
|---|---|
When a word ends in Y and there is a consonant before Y, we change the Y to I and add -ES. |
|
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
baby |
babies /ˈbeɪbiz/ |
fry |
fries /fraɪz/ |
supply |
supplies /səˈplaɪz/ |
fly |
flies /flaɪz/ |
ally |
allies /ˈælaɪz, əˈlaɪz/ |
BUT NOT AFTER—VOWEL+Y |
|
employ |
employs /ɛmˈplɔɪz/ |
destroy |
destroys /dɪˈstrɔɪz/ |
key |
keys /kiz/ |
monkey |
monkeys /ˈmʌŋkiz/ |
toy |
toys /tɔɪz/ |
play |
plays /pleɪz/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| FE or F ⇒ V + ES | |
|---|---|
When a word ends in -F or -FE, we change the F to V and add -ES. |
|
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
leaf |
leaves /livz/ |
half |
halves /hævz, hɑvz/ |
life |
lives n.– /laɪvz/ v.– /lɪvz/ |
self |
selves /sɛlvz/ |
thief |
thieves /θivz/ |
scarf |
scarves /skɑrvz/ |
calf |
calves /kævz, kɑvz/ |
knife |
knives /naɪvz/ |
loaf |
loaves /loʊvz/ |
shelf |
shelves /ʃɛlvz/ |
wolf |
wolves /wʊlvz/ |
BUT NOT IN THESE WORDS |
|
cliff |
cliffs /klɪfs/ |
roof |
roofs /rufs, rʊfs/ |
belief |
beliefs /bɪˈlifs/ |
chief |
chiefs /tʃifs/ |
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) and sounds — pronunciation key
To hear the pronunciation of a word, search for the word and click the sound symbol —
Dictionary.com
Related page FinalS-audio
Practice
Changing Singular Nouns to Plurals
- Write the plural form of the noun in the blank.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.