Plural Spellings

Definitions A singular word is a word which refers to one thing or one group of things. For example: man, sheep, cactus or pillow. A plural word, therefore, refers to more than one thing or groups of things. For example: men, sheep, cacti or pillows . As you can tell from these examples, making plurals can be tricky.

A singular word is a word which refers to one thing or one group of things. For example: man, sheep, cactus or pillow.

A plural word, therefore, refers to more than one thing or groups of things. For example: men, sheep, cacti or pillows . As you can tell from these examples, making plurals can be tricky.

Words ending in -s or -es Most singular words can be made plural by simply adding ‘-s’ to the end. For example: cat would be become cats . However, if the singular word ends in ‘ch’, ‘s’ or a hissing sound, then you must add ‘-es’ to make it plural. For example: princess would become princesses .

Most singular words can be made plural by simply adding ‘-s’ to the end. For example: cat would be become cats .

However, if the singular word ends in ‘ch’, ‘s’ or a hissing sound, then you must add ‘-es’ to make it plural. For example: princess would become princesses .

The ‘-ies’ rule If a word ends in the letter ‘-y’ then you usually take off the ‘-y’ and add ‘-ies’. For example: memory would become memories . However, if the letter before the ‘-y’ is a vowel, then you simply add ‘-s’. For example: tray would become trays .

If a word ends in the letter ‘-y’ then you usually take off the ‘-y’ and add ‘-ies’. For example: memory would become memories .

However, if the letter before the ‘-y’ is a vowel, then you simply add ‘-s’. For example: tray would become trays .

Words ending in ‘-f’ When a singular word ends in ‘-f’ to make it into a plural you take off the ‘-f’ and add ‘-ves’. For example: leaf would become leaves . However, with some words you simply add ‘-s’. For example: dwarf would become dwarfs , but there are no rules to remember this by.

When a singular word ends in ‘-f’ to make it into a plural you take off the ‘-f’ and add ‘-ves’. For example: leaf would become leaves .

However, with some words you simply add ‘-s’. For example: dwarf would become dwarfs , but there are no rules to remember this by.

Odd Plurals There are some words that have some very interesting endings. One such words are words that end with ‘a’, ‘um’ or ‘us’. These words are actually ‘Latin’ (the language that Caesar and the senators would have spoken), so English rules don’t effect them. Words that end with ‘a’ become ‘ae’ Words that end with ‘um’ become ‘a’. Words that end with ‘us’ end with ‘I’. Look the last three questions of the worksheet. These are examples of the plural endings above.

There are some words that have some very interesting endings. One such words are words that end with ‘a’, ‘um’ or ‘us’. These words are actually ‘Latin’ (the language that Caesar and the senators would have spoken), so English rules don’t effect them.

Words that end with ‘a’ become ‘ae’

Words that end with ‘um’ become ‘a’.

Words that end with ‘us’ end with ‘I’.

Look the last three questions of the worksheet. These are examples of the plural endings above.

Plural Spellings Now click on the test button to see what you have learned with the following questions… WORKSHEET TEST

Now click on the test button to see what you have learned with the following questions…

WORKSHEET

TEST