1. How can we make a noun plural in an easy way?
Singular Nouns
How can we make a noun plural in an easy way?

2. Singular Noun Definition
When a noun means one only, it is said to be singular.
Examples: boy, girl, woman, man, child,
Church cat lamp fork church book

3. How are the plurals of most nouns formed?
RULE #1: The plural of nouns is usually formed by adding S to a singular noun
Examples: lamp - lamps
cat cats
fork - forks
flower – flowers
pen - pens

4. How is a plural made when a noun ends in S, Z, X, SH and CH?
RULE #2: Nouns ending in S, Z, X, SH and CH form the plural by adding -es.
Examples: moss - mosses
buzz - buzzes church - churches
box – boxes miss misses
dish - dishes pass - passes

5. Why do you add –es to make a plural noun ending in s, z, x, sh or ch?
If you just added -s to such nouns as fox, bush, bench, pass or buzz – you would find you cannot pronounce them without making an extra syllable. This is why such nouns form the plural by adding -es.
Try it - bushs catchs boxs
foxs buzzs

6. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in Y and is preceded by a consonant?
Rule #4: Nouns ending in -Y, preceded by a vowel form their plurals by adding -S.
Examples: Boy - boys
Key - keys
day - days
pay - pays

7. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in o and is preceded by a consonant?
Rule #5: Most nouns ending in O, preceded by a consonant is formed into a plural by adding -es. Examples: hero - heroes grotto - grottoes mango - mangoes tomato - tomatoes

8. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in o and has a vowel before the O?
Most nouns ending in O, with a vowel before the o are made plural by adding -S.
Examples:
folio - folios
cameo – cameos
studio – studios
portfolio - portfolios

9. How do you form a plural when a noun ends in - f or -fe?
Rule #6: Some nouns ending in F or FE are made plural by changing F or FE to –VES
Examples: wife wives
leaf leaves
safe saves
loaf loaves
thief thieves
calf calves

10. Are there any exceptions to the -f or -fe to the -ves rule?
Many nous may form their plurals by just add –S
Examples:
chief chiefs grief - griefs
fife – fifes
mischief – mischiefs
hoof - hoofs
roof - roofs

11. IRREGULAR PLURALS Give a couple of examples of irregular plurals
AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALWAYS PLURALS THAT JUST DON’T FOLLOW ANY RULES. The following are just a few:
Man –Men Woman – Women
Child – Children Foot – Feet
Tooth – Teeth Mouse – Mice
Louse – Lice Ox – Oxen
Goose – Geese

12. Let’s look at these in a handout together
Safe
Rife
Wife
Knife
Ruffle
giraffe