Most nouns form the plural by adding -s or -es.
Singular | Plural |
boat | boats |
hat | hats |
house | houses |
river | rivers |
A noun ending in -y preceded by a consonant makes the plural with -ies.
Singular | Plural |
a cry | cries |
a fly | flies |
a nappy | nappies |
a poppy | poppies |
a city | cities |
a lady | ladies |
a baby | babies |
There are some irregular formations for noun plurals. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
Examples of irregular plurals:
Singular | Plural |
woman | women |
man | men |
child | children |
tooth | teeth |
foot | feet |
person | people |
leaf | leaves |
half | halves |
knife | knives |
wife | wives |
life | lives |
loaf | loaves |
potato | potatoes |
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 |
species | species |
aircraft | aircraft |
Some nouns have a plural form but take a singular verb.
Examples:
news The news is on 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 plural form and take a plural verb.
Examples:
trousers My trousers are too tight.
jeans Her jeans are black.
glasses Those glasses are his.
others include:
savings, thanks, steps, stair, customs, congratulations, tropics, wages, spectacles, outskirts, goods, wits