This document provides instruction on forming plural nouns in English. It discusses several rules for creating plurals: 1. For most nouns, add -s to the singular form to make it plural (e.g. book to books, table to tables). 2. For nouns ending in a consonant + y, change the y to i and add -es (e.g. baby to babies, city to cities). 3. For nouns ending in a vowel + y, simply add -s (e.g. boy to boys, holiday to holidays). Exercises are provided applying these rules to create plural forms of sample nouns and fill in puzzles using plural nou

1. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 1 of 21
Making Nouns Plural
Nouns are people, places, and things.
People
Singular Plural Singular Plural
boy boys men
man
Places
Singular Plural Singular Plural
house houses city cities
Things
Singular Plural Singular Plural
mouse
mice
hat
hats
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2. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 2 of 21
To make the plural form of most nouns, add –s.
Singular Plural
book books
table tables
Exercise 1
Here is a list of nouns that you may find in a classroom. Write the plural forms of these nouns.
Singular Plural
book
computer
desk
eraser
map
pen
pencil The plural form of
paper classroom is classrooms.
student
table
teacher
Exercise 2
The five plural nouns in the box are in this word search puzzle. Circle these words.
The words can appear horizontally, vertically diagonally, and backwards. The answers are on
page 19.
T M J K X Q X I A W Q X D H L
K E A T V G W C I L L L Q W K
X K A H F M T E A E U A T I L
Y S K C L J G T S X A Q T O G
K H X P H P I R B K R W F X L
Z D P B G E E C P T M V L I M books
computers
X G F H I T R S Q M K Y E W R maps
students
W E L M U K Q S C I D P J K I teachers
W C A P U S F P U M A B L A U
J P M Q U T X A U K I O C Y A
S O L W N W N C P T V O R Q H
C F N L H I H F C T S K A Q P
C J J F W E S S U N Y S Q O Z
M L H S S T U D E N T S Y M F
Z F P E K J I Y R Z G X T D X
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3. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 3 of 21
When a noun ends in a consonant + y, change the y to -i and add –es to form the
plural.
Singular Plural
baby babies
butterfly butterflies
city cities
country countries
dictionary dictionaries
discovery discoveries
lady ladies
library libraries
party parties
Exercise 3
Write the plural of each noun on the line provided.
baby butterfly city country
______________ _______________________ __________________________ ______________________
dictionary discovery lady library party
_______________________ _______________ ______________________ _______________ _________________________
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4. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 4 of 21
When a noun ends in a consonant + y, change the y to -i and add –es to form the
plural.
Exercise 4
Read the clues to the crossword puzzle and fill in the blanks. Insert these words into the
puzzle. Use the plural form of these singular nouns: baby, butterfly, city, country, dictionary,
discovery, lady, library, party. The answers are on page 19.
The Clues
Across
3. The scientists make many new ___________________.
7. There are five ___________________ in our city. They have books on many different subjects.
9. South Africa and India are ____________________.
Down
1. There are two ____________________ in my flower garden.
2. The ____________________ go shopping for new dresses.
4. Paris and Madrid are ____________________.
5. The ____________________ are in the nursery.
6. Melanie goes to many__________________ during the Christmas holidays.
8. John has two ______________. He uses one for English words and he uses the other for Spanish words.
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5. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 5 of 21
When a noun ends in a vowel + y, add –s to form the plural.
boy boys
Singular Plural
boy boys
day days
guy guys
key keys
holiday holidays
jockey jockeys
journey journeys
monkey monkeys
toy toys
trolley trolleys
Exercise 5
Circle the correct spelling of these plural nouns.
jokceys jockyes jockeys
guys guies gyus
holidaies holidays hollydays
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6. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 6 of 21
When a noun ends in a vowel + y, add –s to form the plural.
Exercise 6
Fill in the missing letters of these plural nouns from page 5. The answers are on page 19.
d __ y ___ tr __l __e__s __ o __ k __ y __ jo __ r __ e y __ __ e __ s
__ o __ s b __ y __
Exercise 7
Use the words on page 5 to fill in the blank with a singular or plural noun. The answers are on
page 19.
1. A _____________________ rides a horse.
2. There are ____________________ at the zoo.
3. The children are playing with their ____________________.
4. The ____________________ is in the classroom.
5. There are seven ____________________ in one week.
6. The ____________________ are playing football.
7. Janet has _____________________ to her apartment and her car.
8. Christmas and Easter are ____________________.
9. You are going to France. Have a pleasant ____________________.
10. Mary rides the ____________________ when she goes downtown.
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7. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 7 of 21
Add -es to nouns ends in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or –z to form the plural.
Nouns that end in –ch
beach match sandwich wrench
Exercise 8
Write the plural form of these nouns.
Singular Plural
beach
match
sandwich
wrench
Exercise 9
Fill in the blank with a singular or plural noun.
1. It’s a sunny day. Let’s go to the ____________________.
2. Bill needs a couple of ____________________ to fix the car engine.
3. I need some ____________________ to light the fire.
4. Jim eats a ____________________ at lunch time.
Exercise 10
Unscramble each of the plural nouns. Copy the numbered cell to the other cells with the same
number. A surprise sentence will appear. The answer is on page 19.
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8. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 8 of 21
Add -es to nouns ends in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or –z to form the plural.
Nouns that end in –sh
bushes dishes eyelashes
Exercise 11
Write the singular forms of these plural nouns.
Singular Plural
bushes
dishes
eyelashes
Exercise 12
Fill in the blank with the plural noun.
After supper we have to wash the ___________________.
She has long ____________________.
Mike trims the ____________________ in the front yard every weekend.
Exercise 13
The words that end in –sh have been chopped into small pieces. They are in their plural form.
Write the letters in the boxes so that you put the pieces of the words back together again.
Example: b hes us
b us hes __bushes__
s e sh ye e la
_________________________
i d sh s e
________________________
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9. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 9 of 21
Add -es to nouns ends in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or –z to form the plural.
Nouns that end in –x and -z.
ax box fox tax quiz
Exercise 14
Write the plural form of these words.
Singular Plural
ax
box
fox
quiz
tax
Exercise 15
One of the above words is used in a sentence in this fallen phrase puzzle. Use the letters below each column to
complete the sentence. Notice that the letters below each column are scrambled. (Hint: Ann and Betty have
boxes full of something. The first word of the phrase is given.) The answer is on page 20.
Example:
I p a y
t a x e s t o
t h e
g o v e r n me n t
e v e r y
y e a r .
e r
e t p n
y x h r
v v a s y
t a e e a y t n
g o I e r e m e o t
A n n
.
e e
u h a l o
e n t a n
f b l x e r f
j n o l v y d
A B w e t s y
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10. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 10 of 21
Some noun that end in –f or –fe change to –ves in the plural.
Words that end in -f
Exercise 16
Write the plural forms of these nouns.
Singular Plural
calf calves
half
leaf
loaf
scarf
thief
wolf scarves
Read these sentences and notice the singular and plural forms of the nouns.
A calf is a young cow. Calves are young cows.
One half is one of two equal parts. Halves are two equal parts of one whole thing.
A leaf is the part of a plant that grows from a branch. Leaves are the parts of a plant that grow from
branches.
A loaf is bread that has been baked into one large piece. Loaves are large pieces of bread.
A scarf is a piece of cloth that you wear around your neck and head. Scarves are pieces of cloth that
you wear around your neck and head.
A thief is someone who steals things. Thieves are people who steal things.
A wolf is a wild animal that is like a large dog. Wolves are wild animals that are like large dogs.
Exercise 17
Read the sentences above in order to find the words tthat answer the questions below.
Example: Which plural noun means “young cows”? __calves__
1. Which plural noun means “parts of a plant that grow from branches"?
____________________
2. Which plural noun means “wild animals that are like large dogs”?
leaves
____________________
3. Which plural noun means “two equal parts of one whole thing?” ____________________
4. Which plural noun means “people who steal things”? ____________________
5. Which plural noun means “pieces of cloth that you wear around your neck and head”? _____________
6. Which plural noun means “large pieces of bread”? ____________________
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11. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 11 of 21
Some noun that end in –f or –fe change to –vest in the plural.
Words that end in –fe
Exercise 18
Write the plural form of these nouns.
Singular Plural
knife
life
wife
knives
Exercise 16
Here are 2 cryptograms. Write the letter that corresponds with the number in each of the
blanks below in order to form a sentence. The answers are on page 20.
Example: a d e h i m n o r s t v w
9 26 23 4 15 24 10 3 20 11 12 16 25
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
25 15 16 23 11 9 20 23 25 3 24 23 10 12 4 9 12 9 20 23 24 9 20 20 15 23 26
___ ___ ___ ___ ___. _W_ _i_ _v_ _e_ _s_ _a_ _r_ _e_ _w_ _o_ _m_ _e_ _n_ _t_ _h_ _a_ _t_ _a_ _r_ _e_
12 3 24 23 10 25 15 16 23 11 9 20 23 25 3 24 23 10 12 4 9 12 9 20 23
m_ _a_ _r_ _r_ _i_ _e_ _d_ _t_ _o_ _m_ _e_ _n_.
24 9 20 20 15 23 26 12 3 24 23 10
a c e f g h i k l n o p r s t u v
8 1 25 5 4 19 6 13 15 18 21 12 22 11 10 17 2
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
13 18 6 2 25 11 8 22 25 11 19 8 22 12 10 21 21 15 11 5 21 22
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.
1 17 10 10 6 18 4
a b d e h i l m n r s t w v
23 19 12 26 4 20 18 25 6 8 13 24 2 10
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
18 20 10 26 13 23 8 26 24 4 26 24 20 25 26 13 19 26 24 2 26 26 6
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.
19 20 8 24 4 23 6 12 12 26 23 24 4
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12. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 12 of 21
Some nouns that end in a consonant + -o form the plural by adding –es.
an echo a hero some potatoes three tomatoes
Exercise 19
Write the plural forms of these nouns.
Singular Plural
echo
hero
potato
tomato
Exercise 20
Find and circle the plural nouns in the box on the right. The words can appear in the puzzle
horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and backwards. A hidden sentence will appear between the
circled words in the top 6 lines of the puzzle. Write the sentence below. The answer is on page
20.
P B I L L A T E P O ECHOES
E O T O M A T O E S HEROES
POTATOES
T C T A T O E S A N TOMATOES
D T H A O M A S T O
E S F O T O E R S U
P P E R E O L K T U
Q N G W R S E A D Q
L F Z E A O F S X T
O H H Z U O X Q R O tomatoes and
C M E O D N P T H W potatoes
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .
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13. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 13 of 21
Some nouns that end in a consonant + -o, form the plural by adding –s.
ghetto
auto memo
The mayor of the city wants to
Brian saw many unusual autos She often writes memos
improve conditions in the
at the Washington auto show. on yellow Post it notes.
ghettos.
Beverly Sills
Geraldine
Farrar
piano soprano
photo
The piano store sells new and Beverly Sills and Geraldine
The photographer took
used pianos. Farrar were famous
hundreds of photos at the
photo shoot. sopranos.
Exercise 21
The sentences below have been divided into parts. Find the matching parts of each sentence.
Example: _b_ Brian saw a. new and used pianos.
b. many unusual autos at the auto store.
_____ The photographer took a. at the auto store.
_____ Beverly Sills and Geraldine Farrar b. new and used pianos.
_____ The mayor of the city c. memos on yellow Post it notes.
_____ Brian saw many unusual autos d. hundreds of photos at the photo shoot.
_____ The piano store sells e. wants to improve conditions in the ghettos.
_____ She often writes f. were famous sopranos.
Exercise 22
A new sentence has been scrambled. Unscramble the sentence and write it below. The answer
is on page 20.
photos top Mary’s There and are memos desk. on of
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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14. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 14 of 21
Nouns that end in a vowel + -o add –s to form the plural.
kilo
some photos radio
studio
some tattoos zoo
tattoo
some videos
Exercise 23
Enter the maze at tattoo. Find your
way through the maze. Exit the maze
at tattoos.
Exercise 24
Write the plural of each noun.
tattoos
Singular Plural
kilo
photo
radio
studio
tattoo
video
zoo
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15. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 15 of 21
Some nouns that end in –o add either –s or –es to form the plural. Either way is
correct. The –es form is most common.
mosquito
torpedo
volcano
tornado
zero
Exercise 25
Write the plural form of each noun.
Singular Plural
mosquito
tornado
torpedo
volcano
zero
Exercise 26
Stepping Stones. Write one letter in each circle. Follow the arrows to know where to place
each letter.
Example: mosquitoes torpedoes
o
m e
o t s
s i
q u
volcanoes tornadoes zeroes
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16. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 16 of 21
Some nouns have irregular plural forms.
Singular Plural
child children
foot feet
goose geese
man men
mouse mice
ox oxen
tooth teeth
woman women
goose
Exercise 27
Write the plural form of each noun.
Singular Plural
child
foot
goose
man
mouse
ox
tooth
woman
Exercise 28
Fill in the blanks with singular and plural nouns.
Example: There is one child in the classroom. There are three __children__ on the playground.
How many children_ are on the playground? There are three __children__ on the playground.
How many __children__ are in the classroom? There is one __child__ in the classroom.
There is one man in the office. There is one woman in the office.
There are five ____________ in the restaurant. There are nine ____________ in the supermarket.
How many ____________ are in the restaurant? How many ____________ are in the supermarket?
There are five____________ in the restaurant. There are nine____________ in the supermarket.
How many ____________ are in the office? How many ____________ are in the office?
There is one ____________ in the office. There is one ____________ in the office.
There is one mouse in the house. Jim had an accident and lost a tooth.
There are twenty ____________ in the field. The dentist pulled out all of my grandfather’s
How many ____________ are in the field? ____________.
There are twenty ____________ in the field? How many of my grandfather’s____________ did
How many ____________ are in the house? the dentist pull out?
There is ____________ in the house. The dentist pulled out all of my grandfather’s
____________ .
How many ____________ did Jim loose in an
accident?
Jim lost one ____________ in an accident.
teeth
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17. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 17 of 21
Some nouns have the same singular and plural form.
sheep
shrimp
deer fish
Singular Plural
deer deer
fish fish
sheep sheep
shrimp shrimp
Exercise 29
Write the plural form of each noun.
Singular Plural
deer
fish
sheep
shrimp
Exercise 30
Riddles. Read the clues. Look up the words that you do not know in your bilingual dictionary.
Answer the questions with the singular or plural form of the nouns.
1. The Clues 2. The Clues
a. lives in the woods a. lives in water
b. a wild animal b. swims using its tail and fins
c. the male has long horns c. is covered with scales
What kind of animal is this? ____________________ What kind of animal is this? ____________________
How do you write the plural form? _________________ How do you write the plural form? _____________
3. The Clues 4. The Clues
a. has a thin shell and a long tail a. a farm animal
b. lives in water b. the skin is covered with wool
c. a small pink animal that you can eat c. eats grass
What kind of animal is this? ____________________ What kind of animal is this? ____________________
How do you write the plural form? _________________ How do you write the plural form? _____________
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18. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 18 of 21
Some English nouns that are borrowed from other languages have different plural forms.
a bacterium some data some nuclei some parentheses marks
Singular Plural
bacterium bacteria
datum data
nucleus nuclei
parenthesis parentheses
Exercise 31
Write the plural form of each word.
Singular Plural
bacterium
datum
nucleus
parenthesis
Exercise 32
Find the four plural nouns above in the spiral word search. They will appear horizontally and
vertically. The answers are on page 21.
i d
e j y n p t s x d s i l i o n f s z a
t i s x l e y p t m u a w n r t k y t
r a x p l a
h i h d q y m d q p a l o v s q b
p r u v v e i l n y i u y v e v a
j e e r m x x s i b bacteria
g t w u d y a n j b p q e f j data
nucleus
k c f c y u b i y x b p h q s
parentheses
m a n t c m y i n m v t p z
h b b f s p l d f m f n w m
p l k n j d u u z e o d
n y a z t j j y v o n e g r c r
w i b f n j n e i t r r k a t w
f q k d i p x h
q l q s y r q e k c l l l s a g l c
t i p y b f a i v t v v e o j m j x
f e c h g
p w z r p r m s l r r b r e u h w u y g
s s u e l c u n o x j e m z p f n w m
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19. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 19 of 21
The Answers
Exercise 2
T
E
A
C S
H R
E E
T R
M U S
A P B
P M O
S O O
C K
S
S T U D E N T S
Exercise 4
Across Down
3. discoveries 1. butteflies
7. libraries 2. ladies
9. countries 4. cities
5. babies
6. parties
8. dictionaries
Exercise 6
days, trolleys, monkeys, journeys, keys, toys, boys
Exercise 7
1. jockey
2. monkeys
3. toys
4. boy
5. days
6. guys
7. keys
8. holidays
9. journey
10. trolley
Exercise 10
beaches sandwiches wrenches matches
Fred eats chicken sandwiches.
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20. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 20 of 21
The Answers (continued)
Exercise 15
A N N A N D
B E T T Y
H A V E
B O X E S
F U L L O F
J E W E L R Y .
Ann and Betty have boxes full of jewelry.
Exercise 16
Knives are sharp tools for cutting.
Lives are the times between birth and death.
Exercise 20
P B I L L A T E P O
E O T O M A T O E S
T C T A T O E S A N
D T H A O M A S T O
E S F O T O E R S U
P P E R E O
R S E
E S
H
Bill ate potatoes and tomatoes for supper.
Exercise 23
There are memos and photos on top of Mary’s desk.
There are photos and memos on top of Mary’s desk.
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21. ESL Helpful Handouts Page 21 of 21
The Answers
Exercise 32
d
a
t
a a
i s
r e
e s
t e
c h
a t
b n
e
r
a
p
s u e l c u n
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