Forming Plurals





Forming Plurals : Grammar and Spelling Tips



The usual way to form a plural is to add an
-s.


Examples : dogs, popes, cats, houses, books


If the word ends in
-ch, --s, -sh, -x, -z, then add -es.


Examples : branches, masses, bushes, boxes, chintzes.


Most words that end in
-for -fe change the ending to -ves (e.g. wives, calves), although there are exceptions (e.g. beliefs, chiefs, dwarfs, gulfs, proofs, roofs).


For words that end in a vowel
-y, add -s.


Examples : days, boys


If a word ends in a consonant
-y, change the -y to -ies.


Examples : babies, spies


Words that end in
-o normally just add -s. But there is a group of words that add -oes. These include buffaloes, dominoes, echoes, goes, grottoes, haloes, heroes, mangoes, mosquitoes, potatoes, tomatoes, tornadoes, torpedoes, vetoes, and volcanoes.





Tips Index





From Forming Plurals to HOME PAGE









Share
Additional Info