English has many spelling rules. In this post, you’ll learn the key rules for making words plural with examples to help you remember. Learn the basic and advanced rules for forming words plural nouns in English, including regular and irregular forms.

What are Plural Nouns?

Plural nouns are more than one person, place or thing. They are countable.

Example:

People, buildings, fishes etc

Understanding pluralization in English 

Pluralization directly impacts the clarity and accuracy of language use. Mastering the rules for forming plurals not only enhances one’s writing and speaking skills but also aids in comprehending English grammar. Different categories of nouns, such as regular and irregular forms, require specific approaches to pluralization.

Basic Rules for making Words Plural

Here are discussed the basic rules for making words plural.

Add -s:

If the noun is regular, add -s at the end.

Examples:

• book – books
• car – cars
• girl – girls

Add -es:

Add -es to nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -o, -x, or -z.

Examples:

• bus – buses
• box – boxes
• brush – brushes
• tomato – tomatoes
• hero – heroes

Add -ies:

If nouns end in a consonant y then change “y” to “i” and add -es

Examples:

• baby – babies
• party – parties
• city – cities

Note: If the word ends in a vowel y, just add -s:

• boy – boys
• toy – toys
• key – keys

Add -ves:

Nouns that end in -f or -fe will change to -ves

Examples:

• knife – knives
• leaf – leaves
• wife – wives

Note: Some just add -s, like:

• roof – roofs
• belief – beliefs
• proof – proofs

Rules for making words Plural; Irregular Plurals

Some nouns don’t follow regular rules.

Examples:

• man – men
• woman – women
• child – children
• foot – feet
• tooth – teeth
• mouse – mice

Some nouns don’t change at all.

Examples:

• sheep – sheep
• deer – deer
• fish – fish

Add -s	Add -es	Add -ies	Add -ves	Irregular Plural
cat – cats	dish – dishes	baby – babies	leaf – leaves	deer – deer
dog – dogs	brush – brushes	city – cities	wolf – wolves	criterion – criteria
table – tables	church – churches	lady – ladies	knife – knives	nucleus – nuclei
chair – chairs	bus – buses	story – stories	life – lives	fungus – fungi
mountain – mountains	bush – bushes	country – countries	wife – wives	cactus – cacti
telephone – telephones	mess – messes	party – parties	loaf – loaves	louse – lice
cow – cows	fox – foxes	fly – flies	calf – calves	ox – oxen
bird – birds	tomato – tomatoes	puppy – puppies	half – halves	person – people
fan – fans	volcano – volcanoes	family – families	shelf – shelves	mouse – mice
cup – cups	virus – viruses	diary – diaries	thief – thieves	tooth – teeth
candle – candles	dress – dresses	body – bodies	sheaf – sheaves	child – children

Is “fishes” correct?

Yes, but it’s usually used when referring to different species of fish.

Why do some words have no plural form?

Some uncountable nouns like “information” or “advice” don’t take plurals.