You have already heard about Nouns. The naming words that we use to refer to names, places, animals, things, or ideas. These are the fundamental building blocks of the language, which can also show us numbers. These can be singular, aka Singular nouns, which are used to refer to one thing, or they can be plural, aka plural nouns, which are used to refer to more than one thing. Plural nouns are connected to singular nouns because they are different forms of the same word that show how many there are. Want to know more about these nouns and how you can use them? Read Below!
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Plural nouns are a type of noun which we use to refer to more than one person, place, animal, thing, or idea. These are similar to singular nouns and only differ from them in terms of grammatical modification.
To help you understand plural nouns meaning better, let’s try to know this with an example of plural noun. Think about the common nouns you use in your everyday language. Words like chocolate, car, toy, and imagination. All these words refer to one item or idea. But what if you want to talk about multiple of them?
This is where plural nouns come in; they will help you indicate the existence of more than one. For example, chocolates, cars, toys, and imagination. As you can see, the nouns (singular nouns) are the same; we have only added an “s” to modify them into plural nouns. Following this, most plural nouns are formed by adding "-s" or "-es" to the singular form.
Many dictionaries have their own definition of a plural noun. But a popular one comes from the Cambridge dictionary, which defines it as “A word or form that expresses more than one”. In addition to this, Wikipedia defines plural nouns meaning as “A plural is one of the values of the grammatical category of number. The plural of a noun typically denotes a quantity greater than the default quantity represented by that noun.”
There are two types of plural nouns in English. One is a regular plural noun, and the other is an irregular plural noun.
1. Regular Nouns: These are the nouns that follow the standard pluralisation rules in English when they form their plural and follow a predictable pattern by adding “s” or “es.”
2. Irregular Nouns: These, on the other hand, do not follow a standard pluralisation rule in English when forming their plural. Instead, you have to either change their spelling, add a special ending, or stay the same in both singular and plural.
The plural nouns rules for formation usually depend on whether they are regular nouns or irregular nouns.
As we mentioned above, the formation of plural nouns follows a standard pattern/ set of general rules. To make regular nouns plural, you have to add a suffix (“s” or “es”) to the end of a singular noun. The rules for this include:
1. Add “s” to most Nouns: For most of the singular nouns, you simply have to add “s” to make them plural.
For example:
2. Add –es to Nouns Ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh: For nouns that end in a hissing, buzzing, or shushing sound, you have to add “es.”
For example:
3. Change “y” to “ies” for Nouns Ending in a Consonant + y: If the noun ends with y and is preceded by a consonant, then you have to replace the “y” with “I” and add “es.”
For example:
Note: If the noun ends in a vowel + y, then just add “s”. For example, Boy → Boys and Key → Keys.
4. For Nouns Ending in “f” or “fe,” Change to “ves”: To make a noun that ends in “f” or “fe” plural, you have to change it to “ves.”
For example:
5. Add “es” for Nouns Ending in “o”: When a noun ends with a vowel + o, then you simply have to add an “s”.
For example:
The rules for the formation of plural nouns when they are irregular are different. They do not add “s” or “es”; they simply change their spelling in unique ways. And sometimes, they don’t even change their spelling at all. And you have to learn their formation rules individually.
1. Changing the Vowel (Internal Change): Some nouns change to their plural form by changing the vowel inside the word.
For example:
2. No Change in Singular and Plural Forms: Some irregular plural nouns do not change their form and stay the same in both their singular and plural form.
For example:
3. Changing “f “ or “fe” to “ves” (Irregular Group): While not always, there are a few nouns which follow this pattern irregularly.
For example:
Note: Some “f” and “fe” nouns are regular, so you have to learn this group individually.
4. Nouns Ending in “us” (Latin Origin): The Latin origin nouns that end in “us” replace it with “i” in their plural form.
For example:
5. Nouns Ending in –is (Greek Origin): Greek origin nouns that end in “is” replace it with “es” in their plural form.
For example:
Let’s take a look at some plural noun examples in sentences below, to understand how you can use them in your everyday language:
1. The books on the table belong to my sister.
2. Several cats were playing in the yard.
3. The buses arrived late this morning.
4. We packed the boxes before moving.
5. The babies slept peacefully in their cribs.
6. She planted colourful lilies in the garden.
7. The children are playing outside.
8. Three men helped carry the heavy furniture.
9. The sheep are grazing in the field.
10. Many fish live in the coral reef.
11. The deer ran quickly into the woods.
12. The cacti need very little water.
13. Both criteria must be met for approval.
14. Scientists observed unusual phenomena during the experiment.
15. We spent the holiday with the Smiths.
Even though there is not much difference between singular and plural nouns besides their formation and the number of something they show. You must understand the clear difference between them for correct grammar use.
1. Singular Noun: A Singular noun is the basic form of the noun and refers to one person, place, thing, animal, or idea. They also usually work with singular verbs, such as is, has, or goes.
For example:
2. Plural Noun: These are modified forms of a base noun and refer to more than one person, place, thing, animal, or idea. They usually work with plural verbs, such as are, have, or go.
For example:
Here is a singular and plural nouns list so that you understand the difference between them better.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Shelf | Shelves |
| Loaf | Loaves |
| Scarf | Scarves |
| Calf | Calves |
| Echo | Echoes |
| Hero | Heroes |
| Tomato | Tomatoes |
| Volcano | Volcanoe/volcanos |
| Dwarf | Dwarves/dwarfs |
| Thief | Thieves |
| Berry | Berries |
| Colony | Colonies |
| Pony | Ponies |
| Goose | Geese |
| Mouse | Mice |
| Foot | Feet |
| Tooth | Teeth |
| Ox | Oxen |
When forming or using plural nouns, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to avoid making common mistakes. This includes:
1. Avoiding Apostrophe Errors: Adding an apostrophe to form a simple plural is one of the most common mistakes people make. We use an apostrophe to make a noun possessive, not to make it plural.
2. Ensuring Subject-Verb Agreement: Another common mistake is not having subject-verb agreement. The verb in a sentence needs to match its subject in number. So, a plural subject will require a plural verb form.
3. Misusing Fewer and Less: We use “fewer’ with plural count nouns and “less” with singular mass nouns.
Now that you have a better understanding of the plural nouns. Below is a plural nouns worksheet for you to solve. This will help you in reinforcing plural nouns rules and develop your reading comprehension. Once you solve it, check your answers using the answer key below and see if you understand the formation of plural nouns well or not.
In this first plural noun exercise, you have to rewrite the sentences by changing the plural form of the underlined words.
1. The child finished the project on time.
2. A woman asked the teacher a question.
3. The foot of the mountain was covered in fog.
4. That leaf fell gently onto the ground.
5. A wolf howled in the distance.
6. The person carried a large suitcase.
7. A goose wandered near the trail.
8. The man fixed the broken fence.
9. The mouse hid behind the cupboard.
10. A tooth was loose after the accident.
Answer Key
In this next plural noun exercise, you will have to fill the blanks with the correct plural form of the words given in the brackets.
1. The hikers collected several colorful __________ (berry) along the trail.
2. Three __________ (wolf) were spotted near the edge of the forest.
3. The museum displayed ancient __________ (artifact) from many cultures.
4. Several __________ (analysis) showed the same results.
5. The farmer kept his tools in two wooden __________ (shelf).
6. A group of __________ (goose) gathered near the pond.
7. The scientist studied different __________ (species) of insects.
8. The storm knocked down many __________ (branch) from the old trees.
9. Several __________ (lady) volunteered to help clean the park.
10. The classroom had tables, chairs, and boxes full of colorful __________ (toy).
Answer Key
Summing up, plural nouns might look like a small part of English grammar. But they play a huge role in how clearly or accurately you can communicate. By understanding the rules, recognising the exceptions, and practising with real examples of plural nouns in English, you will be better able to express quantities, describe situations precisely, and avoid common grammar mistakes that can easily slip into everyday writing. Additionally, if you need any help understanding more of such English grammar parts like collective noun or proper noun, then you can take Gradding’s English proficiency classes.
1. What are Some Plural Nouns Examples?
Some common and widely used examples of plural nouns include:
2. Collective Noun is Singular or Plural?
A collective noun can be both singular and plural, but it depends on how it is being used.
3. What is the Plural of 50?
The plural of 50 is 50s (no apostrophe). This is because numbers used as nouns form their plural by adding –s. For example, “Today's fashion is completely different from the 1950s”.
4. Plural Nouns vs. Possessive Nouns
The main difference between plural nouns and possessive nouns is that plural nouns are used to refer to more than one thing. For example, days, dogs, cats, and chocolates. Possessive nouns, on the other hand, are used to show ownership of something. For example, a dog’s collar and a cat’s play toy.
5. Are there Nouns with Multiple Plural Forms?
Yes, some nouns have more than one plural form. Often, these nouns have different plural forms based on their origin or are the result of different formation rules in English. For example:
6. What are Plural Compound Nouns?
Plural compound nouns are multi-word nouns that become plural after changing the main (most important) word. For Example:
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