When we’re writing in English, we have to know that there are some differences between the spelling of the singular and the plural noun. In this article, we will learn about it furthermore, so let’s head to the list.
What are Singular Nouns ?
A singular noun means there is only one amount of an object by the word. It’s usually written with ‘a’, ‘an’, or ‘the’ before the noun itself.
Of the multitude of various sorts of things, figuring out how to perceive a solitary thing and understanding when to utilize them is gives over the simplest. There are no specific principles to follow… you don’t need to add letters as far as possible or change the spelling as you do with plural things and unpredictable plural things.
Examples of Singular Nouns:
- A car
- A book
- A desk
- An apple
- An eraser
- An illustration
- The house
Note :
A is for the words that started with the consonant letter.
An is for the words that started with the vowel letter.
What are Plural Nouns ?
The plural is another kind of noun that typically denotes a quantity other than the default quantity represented by a noun, which is generally one. Most particular things are made plural by just putting an – s toward the end.
There are various standards with respect to pluralization contingent upon what letter a thing closes in. Sporadic things don’t adhere to plural thing rules, so they should be retained or turned upward in the word reference.
The transformation from the singular noun to the plural noun is usually by adding -s, -es, or -ies by the end of the noun, this form called by ‘regular noun’.
But there’s also another transformation that happens from the singular noun to plural noun, this different transformation called by ‘irregular noun’.
Examples of Plural Nouns
Let’s have a look at examples of two types of plural nouns: regular plurals and irregular plurals.
1. Regular Plural Nouns
Most of the singular nouns form turn into plural noun by adding -s.
| Singular | Plural |
| Camel | Camels |
| Broom | Brooms |
| Lamp | Lamps |
| Paper | Papers |
| Flower | Flowers |
The singular noun that ends with s or ss, x, z or zz, ch, and sh will turn into the plural form by adding -es.
| Singular | Plural |
| Beach | Beaches |
| Ash | Ashes |
| Wax | Waxes |
| Dress | Dresses |
| Blitz | Blitzes |
The singular noun that ends with consonant or qu + y turns into the plural form by changing the y with -ies.
| Singular | Plural |
| Lady | Ladies |
| Library | Libraries |
| Story | Stories |
| Theory | Theories |
| Penny | Pennies |
If the singular noun ends with vowels + y it can be turned to plural form by adding -s.
| Singular | Plural |
| Toy | Toys |
| Day | Days |
| Key | Keys |
| Donkey | Donkeys |
If the common noun ends with y but preceded with consonants, then add -s to make it into the plural form.
| Singular | Plural |
| Brendy | Brendys |
| July | Julys |
Nouns that end with -f are replaced with -v to change to the plural form and then added with -es.
| Singular | Plural |
| Shelf | Shelves |
| Wolf | Wolves |
| Leaf | Leaves |
| Calf | Calves |
| Thief | Thieves |
A singular noun ending in -fe makes the plural by dropping the -fe and change it into -v, then add –es.
| Singular | Plural |
| Wife | Wives |
| Knife | Knives |
| Life | Lives |
A singular noun for specific people, places, and things ending in f make the plural by adding -s. And the exceptions for the noun of people and places, they must begin with a capital letter.
| Singular | Plural |
| Cliff | Cliffs |
| Chef | Chefs |
| Chief | Chiefs |
| Staff | Staffs |
| Proof | Proofs |
Few nouns that end with -f can also form into two type of plural noun.
| Singular | Plural |
| Scarf | Scarfs or Scarves |
| Dwarf | Dwarfs or Dwarves |
| Handkerchief | Handkerchiefs or Handkerchieves |
If a noun ends in vowel + o then add -s to change it into the plural form
| Singular | Plural |
| Radio | Radios |
| Kangaroo | Kangaroos |
| Video | Videos |
| Piano | Pianos |
| Zoo | Zoos |
If a noun ends in consonant + o then add -s to change it into the plural form
| Singular | Plural |
| Tomato | Tomatoes |
| Domino | Dominoes |
| Echo | Echoes |
| Hero | Heroes |
Several nouns end with o, which can be formed as two plural forms.
| Singular | Plural |
| Buffalo | Buffalos or Buffaloes |
| Mosquito | Mosquitos or Mosquitoes |
| Cargo | Cargo or Cargoes |
| Tornado | Tornados or Tornadoes |
| Volcano | Volcanos or Volcanoes |
2. Irregular Plural Nouns
There are some irregular transformations between singular and plural nouns. The most common ones are listed below.
| Singular | Plural |
| Man | Man |
| Woman | Women |
| Tooth | Teeth |
| Foot | Feet |
| Person | People |
| Child | Children |
| Goose | Geese |
Some nouns have the same plural form as the singular.
| Singular | Plural |
| Sheep | Sheep |
| Fish | Fish |
| Deer | Deer |
| Dozen | Dozen |
| Species | Species |
| Bali | Bali |
| Balinese | Balinese |
Some nouns are always in the plural form because they do not have a singular form.
| Singular | Plural |
| News | News |
| Athletics | Athletics |
| Shoes | Shoes |
| Arms | Arms |
| Trousers | Trousers |
| Glasses | Glasses |
| Billiards | Billiards |