A plural noun is a fundamental part of English grammar, referring to more than one of something. These could be people, objects, animals, or even abstract concepts. Mastering plural nouns is crucial to communicating effectively in English, as they are frequently used in both spoken and written language.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at what plural nouns are, the rules for forming them, common exceptions, and some mistakes to avoid. Whether you’re a student or someone looking to improve your grammar skills, this guide will break down the concept of plural nouns in a way that’s easy to understand and apply.
What Is a Plural Noun?
A plural noun represents more than one person, thing, or idea. It’s the opposite of a singular noun, which refers to just one item. In simple terms, when you want to talk about more than one item, you use the plural form of the noun.
Examples of Singular and Plural Nouns:
- Singular: cat, book, apple
- Plural: cats, books, apples
Notice how adding an -s at the end of the singular noun often turns it into a plural. But there are many exceptions to this rule, and in this article, we’ll explore how plural nouns can change in different ways.
How to Form Regular Plural Nouns
The majority of English nouns follow basic rules when changing from singular to plural. These are known as regular plural nouns. Most nouns simply add an -s to the singular form, but certain endings require special modifications. Let’s go over these rules.
Regular Plural Noun Rules
| Word Ending | How to Form the Plural | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -s, -x, -ch, -sh, -ss | Add -es | bus → buses, church → churches, box → boxes |
| -f, -fe | Often change to -ves, but some add -s | wife → wives, leaf → leaves, wolf → wolves |
| -y | Replace -y with -ies (if preceded by a consonant) | baby → babies, city → cities, puppy → puppies |
| -o | Add -es (if preceded by a consonant); add -s (if preceded by a vowel) | hero → heroes, piano → pianos, radio → radios |
| -z | Add -es (sometimes, the consonant is doubled) | quiz → quizzes, waltz → waltzes |
| -i | Normally add -s, but sometimes -es | bikini → bikinis, chili → chilies |
Examples:
- dog → dogs
- box → boxes
- life → lives
- city → cities
Irregular Plural Nouns
Some nouns don’t follow the regular pluralization rules. These are known as irregular plural nouns. Irregular plurals are often remnants of old English or borrowed from other languages.
Irregular Plurals
| Type of Irregular Plural | Examples |
|---|---|
| Old English Plurals (with -en) | brother → brethren, child → children, ox → oxen |
| Vowel Change | foot → feet, goose → geese, man → men |
| Latin or Greek Origin | analysis → analyses, fungus → fungi |
| Other Foreign Language Origins | bureau → bureaux, cherub → cherubim |
| Same in Singular and Plural | fish, sheep, series |
Common Irregular Nouns to Remember:
- Child → children
- Man → men
- Woman → women
- Mouse → mice
- Foot → feet
- Tooth → teeth
Plural Nouns of Compound Nouns
A compound noun is made up of two or more words that function as a single noun. For example, “toothbrush” is a compound noun. When making compound nouns plural, it’s important to know which word is the “head” noun (the most important part of the compound) to pluralize.
Rules for Compound Nouns:
- If the head noun is pluralized, pluralize that part of the compound.
- Example: brother-in-law → brothers-in-law
- In some cases, the entire compound noun may be pluralized.
- Example: high school → high schools
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Plural Nouns
Using plural nouns can be tricky, especially when dealing with irregular forms or compound nouns. Here are some common mistakes that English learners make with plural nouns and how to avoid them:
-
Adding an apostrophe to form the plural:
- Incorrect: The 1980’s were great.
- Correct: The 1980s were great.
Apostrophes are only used for possessive nouns, not for plurals.
-
Incorrectly pluralizing uncountable nouns:
- Incorrect: The informations are useful.
- Correct: The information is useful.
Uncountable nouns, like “information” or “advice,” do not have a plural form.
-
Using singular verb forms with plural subjects:
- Incorrect: The children is playing outside.
- Correct: The children are playing outside.
Remember that plural nouns take plural verb forms.
-
Using the incorrect plural form for irregular nouns:
- Incorrect: She has many foots.
- Correct: She has many feet.
Plural Nouns with Singular Functions
Some nouns may look plural, but they function as singular nouns in certain contexts. These are plural nouns with singular functions. For example, “mathematics” and “news” are plural in form but singular in meaning.
Common Nouns That Are Plural in Form but Singular in Use:
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Ethics
- News
- Measles
In these cases, even though the nouns appear plural, you should treat them as singular for subject-verb agreement. For instance, “The news is on” rather than “The news are on”.
Uncountable Nouns: The Challenge of Pluralizing
Uncountable nouns (also known as mass nouns) are nouns that cannot be counted individually. These nouns do not have a plural form. They often refer to substances, abstract concepts, or collective items.
Examples of Uncountable Nouns:
- Substances: water, sugar, rice
- Abstract Concepts: information, advice, knowledge
- Collective Items: furniture, equipment, luggage
Since uncountable nouns cannot be counted individually, they always remain singular. As a result, uncountable nouns do not take an -s or -es at the end to make them plural.
How to Quantify Uncountable Nouns:
Even though uncountable nouns cannot be pluralized, you can quantify them by using expressions like:
- a piece of (e.g., a piece of advice)
- a bit of (e.g., a bit of sugar)
- a cup of (e.g., a cup of water)
- several pieces of (e.g., several pieces of furniture)
Common Mistakes with Uncountable Nouns:
-
Incorrect: I have many furniture.
-
Correct: I have much furniture.
-
Incorrect: She gave me much advices.
-
Correct: She gave me much advice.
By using these quantifiers, you can effectively manage uncountable nouns in your writing.
Plural Nouns in Foreign Languages and Loan Words
Many plural nouns in English have been borrowed from other languages. These loan words often retain their original plural forms. However, English speakers sometimes apply the regular English rules for pluralization, leading to confusion.
Plurals Derived from Latin or Greek:
Words borrowed from Latin or Greek often retain their original plural forms. Here are a few examples:
- Cactus → Cacti (Latin)
- Thesis → Theses (Greek)
- Crisis → Crises (Greek)
However, in everyday usage, some people may choose to apply the regular -s form to these words (e.g., cactuses instead of cacti).
Plurals of Foreign Words:
Other foreign-origin words might have multiple plural options, depending on the style guide or the context. For example:
- Bureau → Bureaux (French) or Bureaus (English)
- Cherub → Cherubim (Hebrew) or Cherubs (English)
It’s essential to be aware of these variations, especially in academic or formal writing.
Nouns That Are Always Plural
There are some nouns in English that are always used in the plural form. These nouns do not have a singular counterpart. This is often the case with objects or items that are inherently plural due to their structure or function.
Examples of Nouns Always Plural:
- Scissors (Always plural, even when referring to a single pair of scissors)
- Pants (Always plural, even when referring to one piece of clothing)
- Glasses (Always plural, even when referring to one pair)
- Trousers (Always plural)
You cannot use these nouns with a or an, as they do not have a singular form. Instead, you would say “a pair of scissors” or “a pair of pants” when referring to one unit.
Compound Nouns: Pluralizing Multiple Words
When it comes to compound nouns (nouns made up of two or more words), the rules for pluralization can vary. Here are some key guidelines for pluralizing compound nouns.
Types of Compound Nouns:
-
Closed Compound Nouns: These are single words, like toothbrush or basketball.
- Plural Form: Pluralize the last word.
- Example: toothbrush → toothbrushes, basketball → basketballs
-
Hyphenated Compound Nouns: These are nouns joined by a hyphen, like mother-in-law or editor-in-chief.
- Plural Form: Pluralize the last word.
- Example: mother-in-law → mothers-in-law, editor-in-chief → editors-in-chief
-
Open Compound Nouns: These are phrases written with spaces, such as post office or high school.
- Plural Form: Pluralize the last word.
- Example: post office → post offices, high school → high schools
Tip for Compound Nouns:
The head noun (the most important word in the compound) generally dictates how the plural form is created. This is especially important for understanding compound nouns where the plural might not always follow the expected pattern.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Plurals
Even after learning the rules, English learners often make mistakes when forming plurals. Below are some of the most common errors and how to correct them.
1. Using Apostrophes for Plurals:
- Incorrect: I have two dog’s.
- Correct: I have two dogs.
Remember, apostrophes are used for possession or contractions, not for pluralizing nouns.
2. Incorrect Pluralization of Irregular Nouns:
- Incorrect: I saw three foots.
- Correct: I saw three feet.
3. Using Singular Verb Forms with Plural Subjects:
- Incorrect: The team are playing well.
- Correct: The team is playing well.
Even though “team” is plural in meaning, it is singular in form and takes a singular verb. This is true for collective nouns, which refer to groups of people or things but are grammatically singular.
When Plurals Have Singular Functions
Some nouns that appear plural in form actually function as singular nouns. These include words like mathematics, news, and measles. Although these nouns are plural in form, they are treated as singular nouns in sentences.
Examples:
- Mathematics is difficult.
- The news is interesting.
- Measles has been a serious health concern.
In these cases, you should always use singular verb forms and pronouns, even though the nouns may look plural.
Final Thoughts: Mastering Plural Nouns
Understanding plural nouns and how to correctly form them is a crucial part of mastering English grammar. While the rules can be straightforward, there are exceptions, irregular forms, and common mistakes to be aware of. By practicing and paying attention to these details, you can avoid errors and improve your writing clarity.
To further refine your understanding of plural nouns, try reading more content and identifying plural forms. Also, practice writing sentences with both regular and irregular plurals to ensure you have a solid grasp of the rules.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plural Nouns
1. What is the plural of “moose”?
The plural of “moose” is the same as the singular: “moose.” This is an example of a noun that does not change in the plural form. It’s incorrect to write “mooses.”
For example: “There are several moose in the forest.”
2. What is the plural of “octopus”?
The correct plural of “octopus” is “octopuses.” While many people mistakenly write “octopi”, this is based on the assumption that “octopus” follows Latin pluralization rules. However, octopus comes from Greek, and in English, it follows the regular plural form octopuses.
For example: “There are four octopuses in the aquarium.”
3. What is the plural of “fish”?
Generally, the plural of “fish” is the same as the singular: “fish.” This is an irregular plural noun that remains the same in both forms, like “moose” or “sheep.”
For example: “The fish scatter when the shark approaches.”
However, if you’re talking about multiple species of fish, the plural “fishes” is used.
For example: “The aquarium contains many different fishes, including trout and carp.”
4. What is the plural of “crisis”?
The plural of “crisis” is “crises.” This word retains its original Latin plural form, just like other Latin-derived words such as “analyses” or “bases.” It is incorrect to write “crisises.”
For example: “Several crises destabilized the regime.”
5. What is the plural of “person”?
The plural of “person” is “people.” While this may seem like an irregular plural, it is the correct term for more than one individual. “Persons” can be used in legal or formal contexts, but in everyday language, people is preferred.
For example: “There were several people at the meeting.
6. What are 10 examples of plural nouns?
Here are 10 examples of plural nouns:
- Cats
- Dogs
- Houses
- Books
- Chairs
- Apples
- Cars
- Shoes
- Children
- Mice
7. What are 20 plural words in English?
Here are 20 plural words in English:
- Books
- Dogs
- Boxes
- Chairs
- Berries
- Fish
- Potatoes
- Countries
- Ideas
- Newspapers
- Cities
- Leaves
- Tomatos
- Wolves
- Children
- Geese
- Women
- Shoes
- Mice
- Peas
8. What are the rules of plurals?
The basic rules for forming plurals in English are:
- Add -s to most nouns (e.g., cat → cats, book → books).
- Add -es for nouns ending in -s, -x, -ch, -sh, or -ss (e.g., box → boxes, church → churches).
- Change -f or -fe to -ves in some cases (e.g., wolf → wolves, leaf → leaves).
- For nouns ending in -y preceded by a consonant, change -y to -ies (e.g., baby → babies).
- Some nouns have irregular plurals, like man → men, child → children.
9. What is a plural noun example?
A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Here’s an example:
- Singular: dog
- Plural: dogs
The word “dogs” represents more than one dog, making it a plural noun.
10. When do you use plural nouns in English?
You use plural nouns when referring to more than one of something. Plural nouns indicate quantity and can refer to multiple people, objects, animals, or even abstract ideas. For example:
- “There are five cats in the yard.”
- “The children are playing in the park.”