THE PLURAL OF NOUNS – English ESL Worksheets. a free printable worksheet on the English Plural of Nouns with grammar rules and exercises
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS – English ESL Worksheets
Table of Contents
- Grammar Rules
- Exercises
Level:
This lesson can be used on all ages of beginner to elementary students.
Rules
Most singular nouns are made plural by simply putting an -s at the end. There are many different rules regarding pluralization depending on what letter a noun ends in.
1.1. How to form the plural
We form the plural by adding -s to the singular of the noun.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a car | two cars |
| a cassette | two cassettes |
| a lamp | two lamps |
| a hat | two hats |
| a cup | two cups |
1.2. Nouns ending in sibilants
Add -es. Add -s if the noun ends in one -e.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a box | two boxes |
| a sandwich | two sandwiches |
| a suitcase | two suitcases |
| a rose | two roses |
| a garage | two garages |
1.3. Nouns ending in -y
1.3.1. y after consonant
Change -y to -i, then add -es.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a city | two cities |
| a lady | two ladies |
There are two forms of the plural of the word penny:
- pennies → You refer to the single coins.
- pence →You refer to the price (how much sth. is).
1.3.2. y after vowel
Add -s after a vowel.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a boy | two boys |
| a day | two days |
1.4. Nouns ending in -f or -fe
1.4.1. Add -s
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a roof | two roofs |
| a cliff | two cliffs |
| a sheriff | two sheriffs |
1.4.2. Substitute with -ves
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a thief | two thieves |
| a wife | two wives |
| a shelf | two shelves |
Both forms are possible with the following nous:
- scarf → scarfs/scarves
- hoof → hoofs/hooves
Add -s for words ending in -ff.
1.5. Nouns ending in -o
1.5.1. Add -s
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a disco | two discos |
| a piano | two pianos |
| a photo | two photos |
1.5.2. Add -es
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| a tomato | two tomatoes |
| a potato | two potatoes |
| a hero | two heroes |
Both forms are possible with the following nous:
- buffalo → buffalos/buffaloes
- mosquito → mosquitos/mosquitoes
- tornado → tornados/tornadoes
Irregular nouns do not follow plural noun rules, so they must be memorized or looked up in the dictionary.
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