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