When a word names only one thing, it is a singular noun.
I saw one dog.
The word dog is a singular noun.
When a word names more than one thing, it is a plural noun.
I saw two dogs.
The word dogs is a plural noun.
Here are four easy ways to make a singular noun into a plural noun:
- Add -s onto the word.
dog – dogs
car – cars
bird – birds
2. Add -es to words that end in s, x, ch, sh, z, o
church – churches
bush – bushes
box – boxes
dress – dresses
potato – potatoes
3. Change the y at the end of the word to -ies
baby – babies
puppy – puppies
party – parties
4. If the word has a vowel before the y, just add an -s to make it plural.
turkey – turkeys
key – keys
toy – toys
Some singular nouns do not change when they become plural. Their singular form and plural form are the same.
one deer – two deer
one sheep – twelve sheep
Some singular nouns change completely when they become plural. These nouns don’t follow any rules. You just have to memorize their plural form.
mouse – mice
cactus – cacti
goose – geese
man – men
woman – women
child – children
loaf – loaves
Remember: Singular means one. Plural means more than one. You can use four easy rules to make most singular nouns into plural nouns. Some nouns do not follow a rule to become plural. You must memorize those plural nouns.