English 101: Plural Nouns

Most nouns form their plurals by adding s.

umbrella

Examples:
car - cars
umbrella - umbrellas
window - windows
tree - trees

umbrellas

To form the plural forms of nouns ending in s, z, ch, sh and x, just add es.

Examples:
bus - buses
bench - benches

box

box - boxes
bush - bushes

boxes

Some nouns have irregular plurals. As such, they must be remembered.

mouse

Examples:
child - children
 man - men
foot - feet
mouse - mice
tooth - teeth

mice

Remember:
A. Use the plural form of the verb "to be" for plural nouns or subject. The subject and verb must agree.
Examples:
1) The mouse is small. The mice are small.
2) That child is my son. Those children are my sons.

B. mouse - mice but not house - hice.
C. box - boxes but not ox - oxes.  It is ox - oxen.
D. ox - oxen but not fox - foxen. It is fox - foxes.


Practice Test
Give the plural forms of the following nouns:
1) buzz
2) dish
3) orange
4) salesman
5) tax
6) butterfly
7) horse
8) machine
9) book
10) goose

Answers


1) buzzes
2) dishes
3) oranges
4) salesmen
5) taxes
6) butterflies
7) horses
8) machines
9) books
10) geese