The Plural of Nouns

Regular Plural Forms

We form the plural of a noun with the singular + s

parrot – parrots / apple – apples / girl – girls

Nouns ending with y if a consonant is written before. ----> ies

lolly – lollies / story – stories / strawberry – strawberries

but: boy – boys / toy - toys / bay - bays

Nouns ending with ch, x, s, sh, o ----> es

class – classes / brush – brushes / box – boxes

Some nouns ending with f, fe, lf ----> ves

knife – knives / wolf – wolves / life – lives

but: chiefs, safes, cliffs, handkerchiefs

Irregular Plural Forms

Special Plural Nouns

You can use singular or plural with nouns like family, class, police, team, army, band, choir, class, club, crew, company, firm, gang, government, orchestra, party, staff, etc.

Some nouns are identical to the singular form:

Special Plural Nouns

You can use singular or plural with nouns like family, class, police, team, army, band, choir, class, club, crew, company, firm, gang, government, orchestra, party, staff, etc.

In British English the plural is used more often than in American English.

If the group acts in unison (as a group), use a singular verb:

My family lives in Miami. - All the members living under one roof.

The team was successful. - You see the team as a group.

If the group acts individually, use a plural verb:

My family live in towns all over Florida. - Each individual is living a separate life in a different town.

The team were successful. - You see the single members of the team.

EXERCISES

Regular Plural Nouns Exercise 1

Regular Plural Nouns Exercise 2

Regular Plural Nouns Exercise 3

Irregular Plural Nouns Exercise 1

Irregular Plural Nouns Exercise 2

Regular and Irregular Plural Nouns Exercise 1

Regular and Irregular Plural Nouns - multiple choice exercise

One or Ones Exercise

One or Ones - multiple choice exercise

Regular and Irregular Plural - grammar test