This document summarizes rules for forming plurals of nouns in English. It states that most nouns form the plural by adding -s, but nouns ending in s, z, x, sh, ch add -es. Nouns ending in a consonant plus y change y to ies, while those ending in a vowel plus y just add -s. Some nouns ending in f or fe change to -ves. A few nouns have irregular plural forms or remain the same in both singular and plural. Some nouns are always singular even when used with a plural verb or modifier.

1. Singular and Plural Nouns (942)

2. Rules: The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding - s to a singular noun : chair - chair s pen - pen s Nouns ending in s , z , x , sh , and ch form the plural by adding – es : match – match es box - box es

3. Special Note: If you add - s to such nouns as fox , bush , and bench , you will find that you cannot pronounce them without making an additional syllable. This is why such nouns form the plural by adding - es

4. Rules: Nouns ending in - y preceded by a consonant is formed into a plural by changing - y to - ies : lad y – lad ies cit y - cit ies Nouns ending in - y preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding – s : boy – boy s d ay - day s

5. Some nouns ending in - f or - fe are made plural by changing f or fe to - ves : bee f - bee ves wi fe - wi ves Some nouns form their plural not by adding the ending - s/es , but by changing the letters in the root of the word : m a n – m e n child - child ren

6. Some nouns have the same singular and plural form : one sheep - two sheep a deer - two deer Nouns that denote an indivisible pair of things are used in the plural and with a plural verb. Such nouns are often used with the phrase "a pair of“ : a pair of jeans Some uncountable nouns have the ending - s in their form but are used only in the singular: news , cards, measles, mumps

7. Some nouns are always singular. Some of these nouns may be used in the plural when different kinds are meant as sugars, coffees cottons gold silver