Here are the main rules for forming plural nouns in English:
1. For most nouns, add "s":
Book → Books
Car → Cars
2. If the noun ends in "s," "x," "z," "ch," or "sh," add "es":
Box → Boxes
Bus → Buses
Watch → Watches
Class → Classes
3. If the noun ends in a consonant + "y," change the "y" to "ies":
Baby → Babies
City → Cities
4. If the noun ends in a vowel + "y," just add "s":
Boy → Boys
Toy → Toys
5. For nouns ending in "f" or "fe," change the "f" to "ves" (though some exceptions exist):
Wolf → Wolves
Life → Lives
6. Irregular plurals (no set rule, must be memorized):
Man → Men
Woman → Women
Child → Children
Foot → Feet
Tooth → Teeth
7. Some nouns remain the same in both singular and plural form:
Sheep → Sheep
Deer → Deer
Fish → Fish (though "fishes" is used when referring to different species of fish)
These rules should help with most plural forms, but as with many language rules, there are a few exceptions!
1. For most nouns, add "s":
Book → Books
Car → Cars
2. If the noun ends in "s," "x," "z," "ch," or "sh," add "es":
Box → Boxes
Bus → Buses
Watch → Watches
Class → Classes
3. If the noun ends in a consonant + "y," change the "y" to "ies":
Baby → Babies
City → Cities
4. If the noun ends in a vowel + "y," just add "s":
Boy → Boys
Toy → Toys
5. For nouns ending in "f" or "fe," change the "f" to "ves" (though some exceptions exist):
Wolf → Wolves
Life → Lives
6. Irregular plurals (no set rule, must be memorized):
Man → Men
Woman → Women
Child → Children
Foot → Feet
Tooth → Teeth
7. Some nouns remain the same in both singular and plural form:
Sheep → Sheep
Deer → Deer
Fish → Fish (though "fishes" is used when referring to different species of fish)
These rules should help with most plural forms, but as with many language rules, there are a few exceptions!