Lesson 6: Plural Nouns

Rule #3: (continued)

Also when the (y) is preceded by a consonant (all letters other than vowels) is the plural is changeing the y to ies Ex: attorney, attorneys city, cities

Rule #5:Nouns ending in f or fe

Do not follow standard rules in the formation of plurals. Ex: Brief, briefs (add s) half, halves (change f to v and add es)

Rule #1:Most nouns from the plural with the addition of S

Ex: advantage, advantages contract, contracts password, passwords

Rule #8:Nouns that take en as a plural ending.

Ex: child(s),children(p) ox(s), oxen(p)

Rule #2:Nouns that end in s,x,z,ch, or sh are made plural by the addition of es.

Ex:box, boxes

Rule #13:Plural letters.

The plural of a lowercase letter or of a capitalized vowel is usually formed by adding an apostrophe and s.

Rule #14:Plural letters and numbers.

The plural of a number, a capitalized consonant, or a word preferred to as a word is generally formed by the addition of s or es. Ex: 1900, the 1900s

Rule #15: Abbreviations

The plural of an abbreviation is generally formed y adding s to the singular form. Ex:YMCA,YMCAs CPA, CPAs

Rule #12 (continued)

If the compound has no principal noun, the final element is made plural. Ex: no-show, no-shows, start-up,start-ups

Rule #12:Compound nouns.

If the compound word consists of one or more nouns and adjective or a preposition, make the principal noun plural. Ex: brother-in-law, brothers-in-law, locker-on,lockers-on

Rule 6: Nouns ending in O.

May be made plural by adding s or es. Ex:Portfolio, portfolios ratios, ratios

Rule #18: Foreign origin nouns

Nouns from other languages may retain a foreign plural a few have an Americanized plural form. Ex: memorandum (s), memoranda (foreign plural), memorandums (English plural)

Rule #17:

Plural of contractions. Add s to the form the plural of a contraction. Ex: don't, don'ts

Rule #16: Same singular and plural abbreviations.

Some abbreviations have the same form for both the singular and the plural Ex: deg., degree or degrees min., minutes or minute

Rule #7:Irregular nouns.

Some nouns are made plural by a vowel change. Ex: foot (n), feet (plural) goose(n), geese(plural)

Rule #9:Nouns with identical singular and plural forms.

Some nouns have plural forms that identical to their singular forms. Ex: moose (n), moose(p) sheep(n), sheep(p)

Rule #10:Nouns that end in S.

Some nouns that end in s are singular in meaning and require singular verbs when used as subject. Ex:Civics, economics, mathematics,

Rule #11:Plural nouns.

Some plural nouns may be either singular or plural in meaning, but they are used only with plural verbs. They have no singular forms. Ex: scissors, pliers, goods

Rule #4:Plurals of the personal names accompanied by a title.

The plurals of personal names accompanied by titles may be correctly expressed in more than one way. Ex: We have sent letters to Messrs. Wong and Lobe (I), We have sent letters to Mr. Wong and Mr. Lobe (C)

Rule #6 (continued)

When the O is proceded by a consonant, the plural s formed by adding s or es. Ex: Echo, echoes veto, vetoes tomato, tomatoes

Rule #3:Common nouns ending in y form the plural in two ways.

When the y is preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), the plural is formed with addition of s only. Also when the (y) is preceded by a consonant (all letters other than vowels) is the plural is changeing the y to ies Ex:attorney,attorneys delay,delays