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A plural noun is a word that describes more than one person, place, thing, or idea, such as dogs or books.
What are some plural nouns that are always treated as singular?
Some nouns look plural but are used in a singular sense. These often refer to fields of study or abstract ideas. For example, Physics, News, Mathematics, etc.
How do you form plurals for words ending in -f or -fe?
In many cases, replace -f or -fe with -ves to form the plural. For example, leaf→ leaves life→ lives. Some exceptions just add -s, like roof → roofs.
Can plural nouns show possession?
Yes, plural nouns can show possession by adding an apostrophe after the plural ending. For example, The teachers' lounge (belonging to multiple teachers), The dogs' toys (belonging to multiple dogs).
Plural Nouns: Definition, Examples, Types and Rules
A plural noun, also referred to as pluralizing a singular noun, represents more than one place, person, animal, thing, or idea. Learn about common mistakes to avoid when using plural nouns here.
Chandni 23 Jul, 2025
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Plural Noun - In English, nouns are words that represent people, places, things, or ideas. A noun can either be singular, referring to one person or thing, or plural, referring to more than one person or thing.
Understanding how to form and use plural nouns is crucial for mastering grammar and ensuring clear communication. This article provides a detailed guide to plural nouns, including rules, types, and examples, along with common mistakes to avoid.
What is a Plural Noun?
A plural noun is a noun that represents more than one person, thing, or concept. It contrasts with a singular noun , which refers to just one. Plural nouns allow us to express quantities and groups of things, making them essential for everyday communication. For plural noun examples:
Singular : There is one cat .
Plural : There are two cats .
Plural Noun Definition
A plural noun is a word that refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. It's the grammatical form used when a noun represents a quantity greater than one. Most plural nouns are formed by adding "-s" or "-es" to the singular form, but some have irregular plural forms.
How to Form Plural Nouns?
In English, plural nouns are formed by following a set of rules. Here are the most common plural nouns rules for forming plural nouns:
1. Adding ‘s’
For most nouns, the plural is formed by simply adding -s to the singular form.
Examples :
Dog → Dogs
Chair → Chairs
Book → Books
2. Adding ‘es’
If a noun ends in ch , sh , ss , or x , we add -es to form the plural.
Examples :
Box → Boxes
Bus → Buses
Watch → Watches
3. Adding ‘ves’ for Nouns Ending in ‘f’ or ‘fe’
For many nouns that end in f or fe , the f or fe is replaced with -ves to form the plural.
Examples :
Wolf → Wolves
Knife → Knives
Wife → Wives
However, some nouns simply add -s without changing the spelling of the f or fe .
Examples :
Roof → Roofs
Belief → Beliefs
4. Adding ‘es’ to Nouns Ending with ‘o’
Nouns that end in -o typically add -es to form the plural when preceded by a consonant.
Examples :
Tomato → Tomatoes
Potato → Potatoes
Hero → Heroes
But some nouns ending in -o preceded by a vowel simply add -s .
Examples :
Radio → Radios
Video → Videos
5. Changing ‘y’ to ‘ies’
When a noun ends in -y and is preceded by a consonant, we replace the y with -ies .
Examples :
City → Cities
Baby → Babies
Party → Parties
However, if -y is preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed by simply adding -s .
Examples :
Boy → Boys
Day → Days
Toy → Toys
6. Changing ‘us’ to ‘i’
Some nouns that end in -us change the -us to -i in the plural.
Examples :
Alumnus → Alumni
Cactus → Cacti
Fungus → Fungi
7. Changing ‘is’ to ‘es’
Nouns ending in -is are usually pluralized by changing the -is to -es .
Examples :
Crisis → Crises
Thesis → Theses
Diagnosis → Diagnoses
8. Changing ‘on’ to ‘a’
Some nouns ending in -on change -on to -a to form the plural.
Some nouns do not follow the regular rules and have special plural forms. These are called irregular plural nouns. You need to memorize these because they don’t end with -s or -es.
Child → Children
Mouse → Mice
Foot → Feet
Person → People
Plural Form of Nouns
Plural nouns indicate more than one of a person, place, thing, or idea. Most plural nouns are formed by adding -s or -es to the singular form. However, there are many exceptions and irregular forms.
Nouns that Stay the Same in Singular and Plural Forms
Some nouns have the same form in both singular and plural. You have to understand the meaning from the context. Examples:
Sheep → Sheep
Deer → Deer
Fish → Fish
Example Sentences:
I saw a sheep grazing. (singular)
We saw many sheep in the field. (plural)
Compound Nouns in Plural
A compound noun is a noun made up of two or more words. To make these nouns plural, we usually change the main word (the most important part of the compound) into its plural form. This helps show that we are referring to more than one. Examples:
Mother-in-law → Mothers-in-law (Here, mother is the main word, so it becomes plural.)
Toothbrush → Toothbrushes (In this example, we add -es to the end of toothbrush .)
It’s important to know which part of the compound is the main noun. In the case of mothers-in-law , it refers to multiple mothers, not multiple laws. If you’re unsure, try saying it aloud, focusing on which word carries the most meaning.
When using plural nouns, it’s important to avoid certain common mistakes. One of the most frequent errors involves apostrophes. Many people mistakenly use an apostrophe when trying to make a word plural. Let’s explore these mistakes in detail and learn the correct way to form plural nouns.
Avoid Apostrophes in Plural Nouns
A common error is adding an apostrophe (’) when forming plural nouns. However, apostrophes are only used to show possession (ownership), not to create plurals. Examples:
Incorrect: I bought three apple’s .
Correct: I bought three apples .
In the incorrect sentence, the apostrophe suggests possession, as if something belongs to the apple. But since we are only talking about multiple apples, there should be no apostrophe.
When to Use Apostrophes Correctly?
An apostrophe is only needed when the word shows possession .
The apple’s color → The color belongs to the apple.
The teacher’s book → The book belongs to the teacher.
Quick Tip: If you’re not talking about ownership, do not add an apostrophe when making words plural.
Using Apostrophes for Letters
Apostrophes are used with letters when writing their plural form, to make the meaning clear. This helps avoid confusion with other words.
Example:
I got two A’s on my report card.” The apostrophe in "A’s" helps show that we're talking about more than one letter A. Without it, “As” could be read as a word instead of the plural of the letter A.
When Not to Use Apostrophes?
Don’t use apostrophes when you’re making regular words, numbers, or names plural.
Examples:
Incorrect : “The 1980’s were great.” Correct : “The 1980s were great.” (No apostrophe needed for years.)
Incorrect : “The dog’s are barking.” Correct : “The dogs are barking.” (No apostrophe needed for plurals.)
By remembering these rules, you can avoid confusing apostrophe errors and write more clearly. Always use apostrophes only for possession , not plurals, and only use them with single letters when needed for clarity.
When using plural nouns, it’s important that the verb matches the subject correctly. In English, this is known as subject-verb agreement. With plural nouns, we must use the plural form of the verb to ensure the sentence sounds natural and grammatically correct.
How to Match Verbs with Plural Nouns?
For most plural nouns, the verb stays in its base form (without adding -s or -es) in the present tense. This differs from singular nouns, where the verb often ends in -s or -es. Examples:
The cats are sleeping. (Plural noun cats + plural verb are)
The children play outside. (Plural noun children + plural verb play)
Words That Look Plural but Act Singular
Some nouns, like News, Mathematics, and Physics, appear to be plural because they end in -s, but they are actually singular. These words refer to concepts or fields of study, so they require singular verbs.
Examples:
The news is on at 6 PM. (Although news looks plural, it is treated as a singular noun, so we use the singular verb is.)
Mathematics is my favourite subject. (Similarly, mathematics requires the singular verb.)
Quick Tips for Subject-Verb Agreement
Plural nouns need plural verbs (e.g., dogs run).
Singular nouns need singular verbs (e.g., the dog runs).
Nouns like news or physics look plural but are singular and require singular verbs (e.g., The news is important).
Nouns That Are Always Plural
Some nouns are always plural because they describe things with two parts, like scissors or pants. To talk about a single unit, use the phrase “a pair of.” Examples:
Some nouns, called uncountable nouns, do not have plural forms. These include things like liquids, materials, or abstract concepts. Examples: Water, sugar, happiness To refer to a specific quantity, use units or measurements. Example: a glass of water, a piece of advice
Practice Sentences
The children are playing outside. (plural of child)
I bought two loaves of bread. (plural of loaf)
We saw many deer in the forest. (The word deer stays the same in both singular and plural forms.)
Physics is my favourite subject. (Although P hysics looks like a plural noun, it is treated as singular.)
She wears a pair of new glasses. ( Glasses is always plural because it refers to an item with two lenses.)
Plural nouns are essential for talking about more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Most plural nouns follow simple rules like adding -s or -es , but some have irregular forms that need to be memorized. Understanding plural nouns helps us speak and write correctly, making communication clearer and more effective. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be a pro at using plural nouns. Join Kids Tuition Class Now!!
