English Plural Formation

Overview

Learn how to form the plurals of nouns

A,Confused,Busy,Elegant,Office,Worker,In,Trouble,With,Illustrated
stephen
0

Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular = one       Plural = two or more

The plural form of a noun usually ends in -s,  -ies, or -ses

  • A rose – roses
  • A bus – busses
  • One month – months
  • One year – years
  • A baby – babies
  • One day – days
  • A knife – knives
  • A shelf – shelves
  • A potato – potatoes

Some plurals do not end in -s, -ies, -ses. Those are irregular plural nouns.

  • Man – men
  • Woman – women
  • Child – children
  • Tooth – teeth
  • Mouse – mice
  • Sheep – sheep
  • Fish – fish
  • Person – people

Some words are always plural:

  • Scissors
  • Jeans
  • Pants
  • Shorts
  • Glasses
  • Pajamas

Highlighted Author:

stephen

British Culture and What to Know Before Visiting the United Kingdom

English Newsletter

Sign up to receive communications from CORE Languages.

* indicates required
Interests
Smiling young african american businessman writing in diary and using laptop in creative office

Private Classes

Meet one or more times weekly with a dedicated English instructor online at a pace and schedule that custom fits your busy life.

Click here
Group of cheerful young women studying together

Group Courses

Our group English courses meet twice a week for 1-hour classes. Learn English as a Second Language with other motivated students. Best option for English CEFR certification.
 
Click here
Inspirational International Women's Day Quotes for 2023

Self-Paced Courses

Start an English Self-Paced course for helpful content built on top of leading English curriculum: includes videos, vocabulary, quizzes and certificate.

Click here

Additional Topics

Tower Bridge in London, England
English Subordinating Conjunctions
CORE Languages: Course Level 2-4

This unit covers subordinating conjunctions, including after, although, because, before, if, and since. These occur at the beginning of subordinate or dependent clauses, and are used to combine independent and dependent clauses together.

Read More
Kicking Soccerball on Field
English Passive Voice - Part 2
CORE Languages: Course Level 2-4

This unit introduces more complex components of the passive voice.

Read More
Feeding little bird from hand
English Idioms and Idiomatic Phrases
CORE Languages: Course Level 2-4

This unit introduces some common idioms and idiomatic phrases in English. Idioms are expressions whose meaning is not literal but figurative. For example: "The early bid gets the worm."

Read More
Show More
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

The CEFR is an international standard used to describe language ability. Here are specific details of the CEFR for this topic.

General Explanation:
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Specific Capabilities at this Level
Writing:
I can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings. I can fill in forms with personal details, for example entering my name, nationality and address on a hotel registration form.
Spoken Production:
I can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where I live and people I know.
Spoken Interaction:
I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help me formulate what I’m trying to say. I can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
Reading:
I can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues.
Listening:
I can recognize familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself, my family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.