Singular and Plural

Read through the explanations and examples, do the exercise that follows.

Also See:

Nouns
Plural Forms Exercise
Countable / Uncountable Nouns

Try the Subject Video Exercise

Forming Plurals

Most of the nouns are made plural by adding an 's':

pen - pens
pencil - pencils
book - books
file - files

Nouns ending with s, ss, z, zz, x, ch, sh, and tch are made plural by adding "es" to the singular form:

wish - wishes
watch - watches
fox - foxes
bus - buses

If a noun's singular form ends with a consonant plus y, you must change the y to I and then add "es":

baby - babies
candy - candies
sky - skies
spy - spies

Attention: Proper nouns are exceptions to the rule.

the Wendys (not Wendies)
the Kennedys (not Kennedies)

Some Irregular Plural Forms:

man - men
woman - women
foot - feet
tooth - teeth
child - children
medium- media

Attention: A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Therefore:

The media are presenting the story inaccurately.
Women are usually more sensitive than men.

See subject verb agreement

Forming Plurals Table

Forming Plurals	Singular	Plural
a. Most nouns take S at the end of their singular forms.	camera lesson	cameras lessons
b. If the noun ends in S, Z, CH, SH, O, SS, or X, we add ES.	potato pass tax	potatoes passes taxes
* EXCEPTIONS.	radio photo	radios photos
c. If the noun ends in F or Fe, change F or FE to V, and add - ES.	knife wife thief shelf	knives wives thieves shelves
d. If the noun ends in Y preceded by a consonant, change Y to I; and add -ES(ies)	fly baby country city	flies babies countries cities
e. Some nouns have irregular plural forms	child foot tooth man sheep	children feet teeth men sheep

Non-Singular/Plural Form Nouns

Singular	Plural	No Singular Form	No Plural Form
pencil car city woman book dictionary lesson foot	pencils cars cities women books dictionaries lessons feet	cattle trousers scissors pliers police glasses pants shorts	news information measles furniture baggage advice knowledge rubbish

Singular/Plural of "Verb TO BE"

a. A library is a useful building.
Libraries are useful buildings.

b. She is a clever girl.
They are clever girls.

c. Is it a new shelf?
Are they new shelves?

d. Are these boys hungry?
Is this boy hungry?

e. He isn't a worker.
They aren't workers.

Quick Exercise

Change the following sentences from singular to plural or from plural to singular as in the examples.

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