Year 7 English: Form plurals

When we talk about plurals, we mean more than one of something. To make a noun plural, we usually change its ending. Let’s go through the main rules for forming plurals with clear examples and some tips to help you remember.

1. Most Nouns: Just Add -s

For most nouns, forming the plural is really simple. You just add -s to the end of the word.

• Example:
• one cat → two cats
• one book → three books

2. Nouns Ending in -s, -ch, -sh, -x, or -z: Add -es

If a noun ends in -s, -ch, -sh, -x, or -z, we add -es to make it plural. This is because adding just -s would make the word tricky to pronounce.

• Example:
• one bus → two buses
• one fox → two foxes
• one watch → three watches
• one buzz → two buzzes

3. Nouns Ending in Consonant + y: Change -y to -ies

When a noun ends with a consonant (any letter that’s not a vowel) followed by -y, drop the -y and add -ies.

• Example:
• one baby → two babies
• one city → five cities

But if a noun ends with a vowel + y, just add -s!

• Example:
• one boy → two boys
• one key → six keys

4. Nouns Ending in -f or -fe: Change to -ves

Some nouns ending in -f or -fe change the f to a v before adding -es to make the plural. This is because the /f/ sound changes to /v/ in the plural form.

• Example:
• one wolf → two wolves
• one knife → several knives
• one leaf → many leaves

But not all nouns ending in -f or -fe follow this rule. Some just take -s in the plural form:

• Example:
• one chief → two chiefs
• one roof → several roofs

5. Nouns Ending in -o: Usually Add -s (But Some Add -es)

Most nouns that end in -o simply take an -s to form the plural. However, there are some exceptions that add -es.

• Add -s:
• one piano → two pianos
• one photo → several photos
• Add -es (exceptions):
• one tomato → three tomatoes
• one hero → four heroes
• one potato → two potatoes

Tip: Remember TOMATO and POTATO add -es, along with heroes and a few others like echo and tornado.

6. Irregular Plurals

Some nouns don’t follow the regular rules. Their plural forms are irregular, and you just need to memorize them.

• Example:
• one child → two children
• one man → five men
• one woman → six women
• one tooth → several teeth
• one foot → two feet
• one mouse → many mice
• one goose → a few geese

7. Nouns That Stay the Same

A few nouns don’t change at all when they become plural. The singular and plural forms are exactly the same!

• Example:
• one sheep → two sheep
• one fish → several fish
• one deer → many deer

Tips and Tricks for Remembering Plurals

• For -f and -fe endings: If it sounds like a v in the plural, change it to -ves (e.g., leaf → leaves). If it still sounds like f, just add -s (e.g., roof → roofs).
• For -o endings: Remember the exceptions like tomato and potato that add -es. For most others, like piano and photo, just add -s.
• Irregular plurals: Practice and memorize these since they don’t follow the normal rules. Try using them in sentences to help you remember.

Examples of Different Plural Forms

1. Regular plurals:

• one dog → three dogs
• one house → two houses

1. -y to -ies:

• one party → four parties
• one puppy → five puppies

1. -f to -ves:

• one thief → two thieves
• one shelf → several shelves

1. Irregular plurals:

• one ox → two oxen
• one cactus → three cacti
• one mouse → many mice

Challenge: Can You Make These Plural?

1. One baby → _
2. One hero → _
3. One leaf → _
4. One fish → _
5. One knife → _

By following these rules and tips, you’ll become great at forming plurals! Practice makes perfect, so try to use these examples and rules whenever you can.

Here are 60 questions on forming plurals for Key Stage 3 students, divided into easy, medium, and high difficulty levels.

Easy Difficulty (20 Questions)

1. What is the plural of dog?
2. What is the plural of cat?
3. How do you make book plural?
4. What is the plural of tree?
5. What is the plural of car?
6. What is the plural of house?
7. What is the plural of bus?
8. How do you make fox plural?
9. What is the plural of glass?
10. What is the plural of box?
11. What is the plural of baby?
12. How do you make puppy plural?
13. What is the plural of lady?
14. What is the plural of day?
15. What is the plural of boy?
16. How do you make leaf plural?
17. What is the plural of thief?
18. What is the plural of roof?
19. How do you make potato plural?
20. What is the plural of tomato?

Medium Difficulty (20 Questions)

1. How do you form the plural of watch?
2. What is the plural of box and why do you add -es?
3. How do you make lunch plural?
4. What is the plural of church?
5. What is the plural of brush?
6. How do you form the plural of hero?
7. What is the plural of echo?
8. What is the plural of city and why do you change -y to -ies?
9. How do you make baby plural?
10. What is the plural of candy?
11. How do you make half plural?
12. What is the plural of knife?
13. What is the plural of shelf?
14. How do you make calf plural?
15. What is the plural of life?
16. How do you make chief plural?
17. How do you form the plural of roof?
18. What is the plural of potato and why do you add -es instead of -s?
19. How do you make photo plural?
20. What is the plural of volcano?

High Difficulty (20 Questions)

1. What is the plural of child?
2. What is the plural of foot?
3. What is the plural of tooth?
4. How do you form the plural of mouse?
5. What is the plural of man?
6. How do you make woman plural?
7. What is the plural of person?
8. What is the plural of fish and why doesn’t it change?
9. What is the plural of sheep?
10. How do you make deer plural?
11. What is the plural of ox?
12. How do you form the plural of cactus?
13. What is the plural of syllabus?
14. How do you make analysis plural?
15. What is the plural of crisis?
16. How do you form the plural of alumnus?
17. What is the plural of thesis?
18. How do you make octopus plural?
19. What is the plural of phenomenon?
20. What is the plural of datum?

These questions test students on a variety of plural formation rules, including regular plurals, irregular plurals, and specific exceptions. They gradually become more challenging to help students reinforce their understanding of forming plurals.