Singular and Plural Singular and Plural NounsNouns (942)(942)

Rules:Rules: The plural of nouns is usually formed The plural of nouns is usually formed

by adding - by adding - ss to a singular noun to a singular noun::

  chairchair  - chair- chairss penpen  - pen- penss

Nouns ending in Nouns ending in ss, , zz, , xx,, sh sh,, and and chch form the plural by adding form the plural by adding – es– es::

match – matchmatch – matcheses

box - boxbox - boxeses

Special Note:Special Note:

If you add If you add - - ss to such nouns to such nouns as as foxfox, , bushbush,, and and benchbench, you , you will find that you cannot will find that you cannot pronounce them without pronounce them without making an additional syllable. making an additional syllable.  This is why such nouns form  This is why such nouns form the plural by adding the plural by adding - - eses

Rules:Rules: Nouns ending in Nouns ending in - - yy preceded by a preceded by a

consonant is formed into a plural by consonant is formed into a plural by changing changing - - yy to to - - iesies ::     ladladyy – – ladladiesies

citcityy - - citcitiesies

Nouns ending in Nouns ending in - - yy preceded by a preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding vowel form their plurals by adding – s– s:: boyboy – – boy boyss

ddayay - - day dayss

Some nouns ending in Some nouns ending in - - ff or or - - fefe are are made plural by changing made plural by changing ff or or fefe to to - - vesves  :: beebeeff - - bee beevesves

wiwifefe - - wi wivesves

Some nouns form their plural not by Some nouns form their plural not by adding the ending adding the ending -- s/ess/es, but by , but by changing the letters in the root of the changing the letters in the root of the word word ::

mmaan – mn – meenn

child - childchild - childrenren

Some nouns have the same singular and Some nouns have the same singular and plural formplural form::

one sheep - two sheepone sheep - two sheep a deer - two deera deer - two deer Nouns that denote an indivisible pair of Nouns that denote an indivisible pair of

things are used in the plural and with a things are used in the plural and with a plural verb. Such nouns are often used plural verb. Such nouns are often used with the phrase "a pair of“with the phrase "a pair of“::

a pair of jeansa pair of jeans Some uncountable nouns have the ending Some uncountable nouns have the ending

- - ss in their form but are used only in the in their form but are used only in the singular: singular:

newsnews, , cards, measles, mumpscards, measles, mumps

Some nouns are always singular. Some nouns are always singular.  Some of these nouns may be used in  Some of these nouns may be used in the  plural when different kinds are the  plural when different kinds are meant as meant as

sugars, coffeessugars, coffees

cottons gold silvercottons gold silver