In this chapter
In the last chapter, a and an meant one. But what about two, three or a hundred? In English we usually show more than one by changing the noun: one book, two books. This is called the plural.
The main rule is very simple — add -s. Then there are a few spelling changes, and a small group of very common words that are irregular. In this chapter you will learn all three, and see how a plural noun changes the rest of the sentence.
Learning objectives
By the end of this chapter
- I can make most nouns plural with -s.
- I can spell plurals that end in -es, -ies and -ves.
- I can use common irregular plurals: men, women, children, people.
- I can use are, these and those with plural nouns.
Add -s
A plural noun means more than one. For most nouns, just add -s .
The pattern
noun + -s
book → books, car → cars, friend → friends
| Singular (one) | Plural (more than one) |
|---|---|
| a book | two books |
| a car | three cars |
| a friend | many friends |
| a key | some keys |
-
I ( subject ) have ( verb ) two ( determiner ) brothers. ( noun )
-
The books ( subject ) are ( verb ) on the table. ( place )
A plural subject takes are.
-
My friends ( subject ) are ( verb ) here. ( place )
Quick checkI have two ___.
Spelling: -es, -ies and -ves
Some nouns change their spelling. Add -es after s, ss, sh, ch and x — you can hear an extra syllable. For a consonant + y, change the y to -ies .
| Noun ends in… | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x | add -es | bus → buses, glass → glasses, dish → dishes, watch → watches, box → boxes |
| consonant + y | y → -ies | baby → babies, city → cities, party → parties |
| vowel + y | add -s | boy → boys, day → days |
| -f / -fe (some words) | f → -ves | knife → knives, leaf → leaves, wife → wives |
-
one box, two boxes
Add -es after x.
-
one city, two cities
Consonant + y becomes -ies.
-
one boy, two boys
Vowel + y: just add -s.
-
one knife, two knives
f becomes -ves.
Quick checkone party, two ___
Irregular plurals
A few very common nouns don't follow the rules. They are irregular, and you just need to learn them.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| man | men |
| woman | women |
| child | children |
| person | people |
| foot | feet |
| tooth | teeth |
| mouse | mice |
| fish | fish |
| sheep | sheep |
-
Three women ( subject ) work ( verb ) here. ( place )
-
The children ( subject ) are ( verb ) at school. ( place )
-
My feet ( subject ) are ( verb ) cold. ( complement )
-
Many people live in London.
people is the plural of person.
Quick checkWe have two ___.
Plurals in sentences
A plural noun changes the words around it: use are (not is), these or those , and no a/an. Adjectives never change — they have no plural.
-
The apples ( subject ) are ( verb ) fresh. ( complement )
-
These shoes are new.
these for plural things near you.
-
They are good students.
good stays the same — adjectives have no plural.
-
I need two new batteries.
battery → batteries.
Quick checkPut the words in order.
Errors to avoid
These are the mistakes learners make most often with this grammar. Read the wrong sentence, then the right one, and notice the change.
-
Incorrect: I have two childs.
Correct: I have two children.
Child has an irregular plural.
-
Incorrect: There are three womans here.
Correct: There are three women here.
Woman → women is irregular.
-
Incorrect: The boxs are heavy.
Correct: The boxes are heavy.
Add -es after x.
-
Incorrect: Many peoples live here.
Correct: Many people live here.
People is already plural.
Hear it in use
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then play one line at a time and say it after the speaker. The words in colour are this chapter’s grammar.
Conversation
At the market
Ben is buying food for a party at a Saturday market.
- Ben
Good morning. How much are the apples?
- Seller
They're two pounds a kilo. And the tomatoes are one pound fifty.
tomato → tomatoes.
- Ben
A kilo of apples and six tomatoes, please.
- Seller
Here you are. The strawberries are very good today.
strawberry → strawberries: consonant + y becomes -ies.
- Ben
OK, two boxes of strawberries, please.
box → boxes.
- Seller
Are they for a party?
- Ben
Yes, for my children and their friends.
child → children is irregular.
- Seller
Lovely. How many people?
- Ben
Ten people — and two dogs!
- Seller
Ha! Then take some carrots for the dogs. They're free.
What to remember
- 1 Most nouns add -s: book → books, day → days.
- 2 Add -es after s, ss, sh, ch and x: bus → buses, box → boxes.
- 3 Consonant + y becomes -ies: city → cities. Vowel + y just adds -s: boy → boys.
- 4 Learn the irregulars: man → men, woman → women, child → children, person → people, foot → feet.
- 5 Plural nouns take are, go with these/those, and never take a/an.
| Singular | Plural | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| book | books | add -s |
| bus | buses | add -es |
| city | cities | y → ies |
| knife | knives | f → ves |
| child | children | irregular |
| person | people | irregular |
Test yourself
Knowledge check
22 questions on Plural Nouns
One question at a time, with an explanation after every answer. Score 18 or more (80%) and the chapter is marked complete.