Plural Forms Of Nouns
Most nouns have both singular and plural forms. Generally speaking, nouns form their plurals by adding -s or -es to the singular. There are, nonetheless, some exceptions to this rule.
Here is a list of singular and plural nouns.
Singular – Plural
Boy – boys
Boys – boys
Girl – girls
Pen – pens
Pencil – pencils
Book – books
Flower – flowers
Mother – mothers
Father – fathers
Parent – parents
School – schools
Teacher – teachers
Doctor – doctors
Nurse – nurses
Brother – brothers
Sister – sisters
Cousin – cousins
Cat – cats
Dog – dogs
Cow – cows
Some nouns form their plurals by adding –es to the singular.
Hero – heroes
Cargo – cargoes
Buffalo – buffaloes
Torch – torches
Match – matches
Class – classes
Tax – taxes
Echo – echoes
Volcano – volcanoes
Mango – mangoes
Potato – potatoes
Watch – watches
Kiss – kisses
Box – boxes
Some nouns ending in –y, form their plurals by replacing the –y with –ies.
Story – stories
Lady – ladies
City – cities
Army – armies
Baby – babies
Pony – ponies
Some nouns ending in –f or –fe form their plurals by replacing the –f/-fe with –ves.
Life – lives
Knife – knives
Self – selves
Wife – wives
Loaf – loaves
Calf – calves
Thief – thieves
Leaf – leaves
Shelf – shelves
Wolf – wolves
Some nouns ending in –f form their plurals by simply adding –s to the singular.
Brief – briefs
Chief – chiefs
Roof – roofs
Hoof – hoofs
Dwarf – dwarfs
Belief – beliefs
There are also some nouns that form their plurals by making some changes to an inner vowel in the singular.
Man – men
Woman – women
Foot – feet
Ox – oxen
Tooth – teeth
Goose – geese
Mouse – mice
Louse – lice
Child – children
Some nouns are only used in the plural. Examples are: tongs, scissors, spectacles, goggles, trousers, jeans, pants, drawers, tweezers etc.
Some nouns have the same singular and plural forms. Examples are: sheep, deer, swine
Abstract nouns do not have plural forms. Examples are: kindness, intelligence, bravery, courage etc.
Material nouns do not have plural forms. However, sometimes, they are used in the plural and then their meaning changes. For example, coppers means copper coins. Likewise, tins means cans made of tin.
