A noun is said to be singular (or in the singular number) if it is refers to one person or thing. For example:
Girl, doll, bus, knife are singular.
A noun is said to be plural (or in the plural number) if it is refers to more than one person or thing. For example:
Girls, dolls, buses, knives are plural.
Only countable can have a plural form
Formation of plurals
Rule (1) The plural of the most of the nouns is formed by adding - s to the singular form. For example:
Cow – Cows
Tree – Trees
Rule (2) Nouns ending in a hissing sounds (nouns ending in - s, ss, sh, ch and x add –es to the singular form. For example:
Gas – Gases
Dish – Dishes
Watch – Watches
Rule (3) Most nouns ending in - o also form their plural by adding –es to the singular form. For example:
Mango – Mangoes
Hero – Heroes
However, some nouns that end in o form their plural in the normal way. For example:
Bamboo – Bamboos
Stereo – Stereos
Rule (4) Nouns ending in - f and fe form their plural by changing the f or fe into -ves to the singular form. For example:
Calf – Calves
Wife – Wives
However some words ending in - f form their plural in the normal way. For example:
Proof – Proofs
Chief – Chiefs
Rule (5) Nouns ending in - y and the y has a consonant before it its plural is formed by changing the y into -ies to the singular form. For example:
Baby – Babies
Diary – Diaries
However some words ending in - y has vowel before it, its form their plural in the normal way by adding s . For example:
Boy – Boys
Valley –Valleys
Rule (6) A few nouns form their plural by changing the inside vowel or vowels of the singular. For example:
Foot – Feet
Tooth – Teeth
Rule (7) If a noun consist of several words, the - s is added to the first word. For example:
Maid –servant – Maid – servants
Passer – by – Passers - by
Some other rules for the plural nouns
1. Deer, sheep, dozen, score and fish have the same in the singular as well as the plural. For example:
The wolf killed a sheep (singular)
The wolf killed several sheep (plural)
2. Scissors, spectacles, trousers, shorts, clothes are used in plural form always. For example:
My spectacles need to be change.
3. Cattle and people have the appearance of a singular noun. But they are used as plural. We use plural verbs with them. For example:
The cattle are grazing in the field. (Plural verb are is used here)
4. Mathematics, politics, news and innings look to be plural. But they are used as singular nouns. For example:
We won the match by an innings and sixty runs. (The article an is used with singular noun)
5. Figures and letters are made plural by adding -‘s . For example:
Add two 4's to three 2's
6. Abstract nouns like love, beauty and anger are not countable so they do not have any plural form.
7. Names of the substances or materials like iron, copper, milk, stone, and sugar are also not countable so they are used in singular forms only.
Sample Usage
Example for rule (1)
Train – Trains
Year – Years
Example for rule (2)
Match – Matches
Fox – Foxes
Example for rule (3)
Negro – Negroes
Potato – Potatoes
Example for rule (4)
Shelf - Shelves
Life – Lives
Example for rule (5)
Pony - Ponies
Country – Countries
Example for rule (6)
Man – Men
Washer man - Washer men
Example for rule (7)
Son- in – Law – Sons –in- laws
Step – mother – Step- mothers
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