At a glance
- Start
- Is it one thing with two parts (trousers, scissors)?YesAlways pluralMy trousers are new.
- Does it end in -s but mean one subject or illness (news, maths)?YesAlways singularThe news is good.
- Is it uncountable (advice, information, furniture)?YesNo plural formsome advice (not advices)
- Is it sheep, deer, fish, series or species?YesSame for one and manyone sheep, ten sheep
- Is it a Latin or Greek word (crisis, cactus)?YesSpecial pluralcrises, cacti
- Normal rules: -s, -es, -ies, -vesbooks, boxes, babies, knives
Words ending in -o
| + -es | + -s |
|---|---|
| potato → potatoes | photo → photos |
| tomato → tomatoes | piano → pianos |
| hero → heroes | radio → radios |
| echo → echoes | video → videos, zoo → zoos |
Words ending in -f or -fe
leaf → leaves
knife → knives
wolf → wolves
roof → roofs (just -s)
- -ves: leaf, knife, wife, life, half, shelf, wolf, thief, calf, loaf.
- -s: roof, chief, belief, cliff, safe, proof.
Always plural
- For one, say a pair of: a pair of jeans, two pairs of shorts.
Always singular
These words end in -s but take a singular verb: news, mathematics (maths), physics, economics, athletics, measles.
These words are uncountable. They have no plural: information, advice, furniture, luggage, equipment, homework, knowledge, scenery, machinery, poetry.
Same form for one and many
one sheep, two sheep
three deer
two fish
Also: aircraft, series, species, means.
Plural without -s
people, police, cattle are plural: The police are here. Cattle are eating grass.
Latin and Greek plurals
| One | Many |
|---|---|
| cactus, fungus, nucleus | cacti, fungi, nuclei |
| crisis, analysis, basis | crises, analyses, bases |
| phenomenon, criterion | phenomena, criteria |
| datum, medium, curriculum | data, media, curricula |
| appendix, index | appendices, indices |
Compound nouns
- Add -s to the main word: mother-in-law → mothers-in-law, passer-by → passers-by, commander-in-chief → commanders-in-chief.
- If there is no main noun, add -s at the end: grown-up → grown-ups, toothbrush → toothbrushes.
- man / woman + noun: both change: woman doctor → women doctors.
Different meaning in the plural
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| custom = a habit | customs = a check at the border |
| good = right, kind | goods = things to sell |
| manner = a way | manners = polite behaviour |
| arm = part of the body | arms = weapons |
Practice
Answer the questions. Get 7 out of 10 to finish this lesson.