Making Nouns Plural
Most English nouns simply add -s to become plural. But there are spelling rules and irregular forms you need to know. Let’s cover them all.
Regular Rules
Most nouns → add -s
cat → cats
book → books
table → tables
book → books
table → tables
Ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o → add -es
bus → buses
dish → dishes
watch → watches
box → boxes
potato → potatoes
dish → dishes
watch → watches
box → boxes
potato → potatoes
Ends in consonant + -y → drop y, add -ies
baby → babies
city → cities
story → stories
city → cities
story → stories
Ends in vowel + -y → add -s
day → days
key → keys
boy → boys
key → keys
boy → boys
Ends in -f or -fe → drop f, add -ves
leaf → leaves
knife → knives
half → halves
knife → knives
half → halves
Ends in -f → sometimes just add -s
roof → roofs
cliff → cliffs
chef → chefs
cliff → cliffs
chef → chefs
Irregular Plurals (must memorise)
man → men
woman → women
child → children
person → people
tooth → teeth
foot → feet
mouse → mice
goose → geese
sheep → sheep
fish → fish (same!)
⚠️ These nouns are ALWAYS plural (no singular form):
trousers
jeans
scissors
glasses
headphones
jeans
scissors
glasses
headphones
💡 Memory Hack
The “hiss test” for -es
Say the word out loud. If it ends in a hissing/buzzing/shushing sound (-s, -sh, -ch, -x) you NEED the extra syllable: bus → buses, church → churches. Try to say “bus-s” — it’s impossible to hear the plural! That’s why we add -es: “bus-ez” is clear.