Definition / Explanation
Most English nouns make the plural by adding -s or -es. We use plural forms when we talk about more than one person, thing, or animal. Many nouns simply take -s, but some common spelling patterns use -es. Learning these regular plural forms is an important first step before irregular plurals.
Key Rules
- Add -s to many nouns: cat -> cats, book -> books.
- Add -es after s, ss, sh, ch, x, z: bus -> buses, box -> boxes.
- Plural nouns often go with numbers: two bags, five students.
- Use plural nouns with are, not is.
- Do not add -s after a number if the noun is uncountable: two waters is usually wrong in basic grammar.
Examples
- One cat, two cats.
- One bus, three buses.
- These books are new.
- My sisters live in London.
- There are two dishes on the table.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ Two cat. -> ✅ Two cats.
- ❌ Three boxs. -> ✅ Three boxes.
- ❌ The students is here. -> ✅ The students are here.