English Grammar: Noun Number

Plural Forms of Nouns

• The productive formal mark for the plural form of a noun is -s, but there are many exceptions and irregularities.

Nouns Ending in -y-

• When a noun ends in -y- preceded by a consonant, the plural form is formed by changing the -y- to -ies-, unless the noun ends in a vowel + -y-.

Nouns Ending in -o-

• The plural form of a noun ending in -o- preceded by a consonant is formed by adding -es-, unless the noun ends in -co-, -go-, or -photo-, in which case the plural form is formed by adding -s-.

Nouns Ending in -s-

• The plural form of a noun ending in -s- is formed by adding -es-, such as in the noun 'bus', which becomes 'buses' in the plural form.

Regular Plural Forms

• The plural form of a noun is formed by simply adding -s to the singular form, unless the noun ends in -s-, -z-, -sh-, -ch-, or -x-, in which case the plural form is formed by adding -es-.

Compound Nouns

• The plural form of the compound noun 'looker-on' is 'lookers-on'.

Nouns with Vowel Changes

• An example of a noun that forms its plural by changing the root vowel is 'man', which becomes 'men' in the plural form.

Nouns Ending in -en-

• An example of a noun that forms its plural by adding -en- is 'ox', which becomes 'oxen' in the plural form.

Uncountable Nouns

• The plural form of the uncountable noun 'dust' does not exist, as it is an uncountable noun.

Singularia Tantum

• A noun that appears only in the singular form is called a singularia tantum.