As in the Portuguese language, the plural formation of most English nouns is done by adding the s to the end of the word.
Despite this, some nouns have particularities that cause the plural inflection to imply other changes in the original noun in addition to the addition of – s .
Most of the time, these particularities are related to the termination of each word or to some sequence of letters that can also appear in the middle of the word.
Examples:
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| accident | accident s | accidents |
| apple | apple s | apples |
| book | book s | books |
| biscuit | biscuit s | cookies |
| coat | coat n | coats |
| banana | banana s | bananas |
| cat | cat s | cats |
| letter | letter s | cards |
| picture | picture n | images / photos |
| page | page n | pages |
| key | key s | keys |
| computer | computer n | computers |
| table | table n | tables |
| week | week s | weeks |
See below for some rules related to the particularities of plural formation.
Rules of plural formation
Check below the rules for forming the plural of nouns in English, according to the termination of the words.
Words ending with – s , – ss , – sh , – ch , – x , – o and – z
To form the plural of words ending in – s , – ss , – sh , – ch , – x and – z , simply add – es to the end of the word.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| bo x | box is | boxes |
| bu s | bus es | bus |
| buz z | buzz is | humming |
| cla ss | class es | classes |
| cra sh | crash es | collisions |
| chur ch | church es | churches |
| dre ss | dress es | dresses |
| fla sh | flash es | flashes |
| fo x | fox es | foxes |
| ki ss | kiss es | kisses |
| wat ch | watch es | clocks |
| wi sh | wish es | wishes |
| see you z | topaz is | topazes |
Exceptions
1. Note that there is an exception to the rule when the ch- termination of the word has a sound of / k /. In this case, just add the – s to form the plural.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| breed ch | matriarch s | matriarchs |
| monar ch | monarch s | Monarchs |
| epo ch | epoch s | times |
| with ch | conch s | shells |
| patriar ch | patriarch n | patriarchs |
| stoma ch | stomache s | stomachs |
2. It is important to note that in some words ending in -z , to make the plural it is necessary to repeat the letter z and add- es.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Thurs z | quiz zes | questionnaires |
| fe z | did zes | type of hat used in some Muslim countries |
Words ending in – o
To form the plural of most nouns ending in – o , just add them to the end of the word.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ech o | echo es | echoes |
| her o | hero es | heroes |
| potat o | potato es | potatoes |
| tomat o | tomato es | tomatoes |
Exceptions
1. When the words ending in – o are of Latin or Greek origin, or represent reductions, the formation of the plural is done by adding the – s.
Examples of words of Latin or Greek origin :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| avocado | avocados | avocados |
| dynamo | dynamos | dynamos |
| eskimo | eskimo | Eskimos |
| libretto | librettos | librettos |
| magneto | magnets | magnets |
| commando | commandos | commands |
| guetto | guettos | ghettos |
| soprano | sopranos | sopranos |
| studio | studio | studio |
| video | video | video |
| ground | soils | soils |
| portfolio | portfolios | portfolios |
Examples of reductions :
| Original word | Reduction in the singular | Plural reduction | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| automobile | aut o | self s | automobiles |
| cello | cell o | cello s | cellos |
| kilogram | kil o | kilo s | kilos |
| logogram / logotype | log o | soon s | logos |
| pianoforte | pian o | piano s | pianos |
| professional | pr o | pro s | professionals |
| photograph | phot o | photo s | photos |
2. Some words ending in – o have two forms of plural; in one you add – es and in the other, you add only – s. Plural terminated – es are more common.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| flaming the | flamingo s or flamingo es | flamingos |
| mang o | mango s or mango es | sleeves |
| mosquit o | Mosquito s or mosquitoes s | mosquitoes |
| tornad the | tornado s or tornado s | tornadoes |
3. In the case of words ending with – oo , the plural is also made by adding the – s .
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| bamb oo | bamboo s | bamboos |
| z oo | zoo s | zoos |
| cuck oo | cuckoo s | cuckoos |
Words ending in – y preceded by consonant
When the word ends – y and before it is a consonant, the – y is removed and, in its place, – ies is added .
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ba by | bab ies | babies |
| supp ly | suppl ies | supplies |
| f ly | fl ies | flies |
| al ly | all ies | allies |
| f ry | fr ies | fries |
Words ending in – y preceded by vowel
When the word ends – y and before it is a vowel, just add the – s at the end of the word.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| b oy | boy s | boys |
| k ey | key s | keys |
| monk ey | monkey s | monkeys |
| d ay | day s | days |
| pl ay | play s | theater performances |
Words ending with – f or – fe
The formation of the plural, in this case, occurs with the change from – f to the new video with the addition of – es.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| lea f | lea ves | leaves (plant) |
| li fe | I saw you | lives |
| sel f | you see | egos |
| thie f | thie ves | thieves |
| scar f | scar ves | scarves |
| lime f | lime ves | calves |
| kni fe | kni ves | knives |
| loa f | loa ves | bread |
| shel f | shel ves | shelves |
| wol f | wol ves | wolves |
Exceptions
The words below are exceptions to the rule and have their plural formed by adding the – s .
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| cli ff | cliff s | cliff |
| roo f | roof s | roofs |
| belie f | belief s | beliefs |
| chie f | chief s | bosses |
Irregular plural nouns
In the case of some nouns, the formation of the plural does not follow the rule of adding s . Sometimes, the formation of these plurals occurs through a vowel exchange, other times through a word of their own.
These cases are called irregular plurals .
Vowel sequence – oo in the middle of the word
To form the plural of some words, the vowel sequence – oo that occurs in the middle of the word should be replaced by the following vowel – e
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| g oo if | g ee if | geese |
| t oo th | t ee th | teeth |
| f oo t | f ee t | foot |
Words ending with – man
To form the plural of the finished words – man , just replace – man with men .
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| wo man | wo men | women |
| man | men | men |
| police man | police men | cops |
Words with equal singular and plural
In the case of some nouns, the same word is used to designate the plural and the singular.
Examples :
| Singular | Plural form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| fish | fish | fish |
| deer | deer | deer |
| shrimp | shrimp | Cameroon |
| sheep | sheep | sheep |
| offspring | offspring | children; puppies |
| series | series | series |
| species | species | species |
| means | means | means |
| grapefruit | grapefruit | grapefruits |
| aircraft | aircraft | aircraft |
| glasses | glasses | glasses |
Exercises
1. (CESGRANRIO / 1991) The word that DOESN’T have an irregular plural form like tooth – teeth is:
a) ox.
b) foot.
c) cloth.
d) goose.
e) mouse.
Answer
Correct alternative: c) cloth.
2. (CESGRANRIO / 1990) KNIVES is the plural of KNIFE. Which of the words below DOES NOT form its plural in the same way?
a) Wife.
b) Life.
c) Leaf.
d) Chief.
e) Half.
Answer
Correct alternative: d) Chief.
3. (JFS / 2008) Give the correct plural form of the words below:
Buffalo – Eskimo – Concert – Person – Manservant – Thesis – Sister-In-Law – Die
a) Buffalos / Eskimos / Concerts / Personas / Menservants / Theses / Sisters-in-law / Dice
b) Buffaloes / Eskimos / Concerts / Persons / Menservants / Theses / Sisters-in-law / Dice
c) Buffaloes / Eskimos / Concerts / Persons / Manservants / Theses / Sisters-in-law / Dice
d) Buffaloes / Eskimos / Concerts / Persons / Menservants / Theses / Sister-in-laws / Deaths
e) Buffalos / Eskimoes / Concertoes / Personas / Manservants / Thesis / Sister- in-laws / Deaths
Answer
Correct alternative: b) Buffaloes / Eskimos / Concerts / Persons / Menservants / Theses / Sisters-in-law / Dice
4. (Fuvest-1979) Check the alternative that correctly fills in the gaps:
Boys have big _____ and girls have small _____.
a) foots – ones
b) feet – ones
c) feet – one
d) feets – ones
e) foot – one
Answer
Correct alternative: b) feet – ones
5. (PUC-PR / 1996) Match the columns below so that the words in the second column fit the sentences provided in the first one:
1. Tom and Mary love their __________.
2. Put the oranges inside those __________.
3. I can’t walk. My __________ are aching a lot.
4. The __________ are flying south.
5. The cat is hunting the __________.
6. When Jane fell over, she broke two of her __________.
() feet
() teeth
() children
() geese
() mice
() boxes
Choose the correct alternative:
a) 6 – 3 – 1 – 4 – 5 – 2
b) 3 – 6 – 1 – 4 – 5 – 2
c) 3 – 6 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 1
d) 5 – 3 – 4 – 2 – 6 – 1
e) 3 – 6 – 4 – 1 – 2 – 5
Answer
Correct alternative: b) 3 – 6 – 1 – 4 – 5 – 2