What are the rules when forming the plural of a proper noun?

Answer 1

A noun is a word that names a person, place or thing.

The singular form of a noun refers to one person, place or thing.

The plural form of the noun refers to two or more persons, places or things.

Nouns form the plural in different ways.

For most nouns, just add -s

For nouns ending in s, x, z, ch or sh, add -es

For some words ending in o, add -es

However, for some words ending in o, just add -s

For some words ending in f, change the f to a v and add -es

However, for some words ending in f, just add -s

For some nouns ending in -ife, change the f to a v and then add -s

For common nouns that end with consonant + y, change the y to an i and add -es

Some nouns are the same in both singular and plural form

Answer 2

A plural noun is a word for two or more people, places, or things. Here are some rules to make singular nouns into plural nouns:

1. To make most nouns plural, add an s or es to the end of the word. These are called regular plurals (or regular nouns). Example: the plural of neighbor is neighbors, the plural of flower is flowers.
2. Nouns that form their plural in some other way are called irregular plural (or irregular nouns). Example: the plural of child is children, the plural of foot is feet.
3. Nouns ending in s, z, ch, sh, or x, add es to the end of the word to make it plural. The plural of dish is dishes.
4. Some nouns ending with o are pluralized by adding and es to the end of the word. The plural of tomato is tomatoes.
5. Most nouns ending with o are pluralized by adding s to the end of the word. The plural of photo is photos.
6. When a noun ends in a y, change the y at the end of the word to an ies. The plural of berry is berries.
7. Some nouns ending with y, preceded by a vowel, are pluralized by just adding s to the end of the word. The plural of day is days.
8. Nouns ending with f or fe, change to f or the fe to ves to form the plural. The plural of life is lives.
9. Nouns ending with ff are usually pluralized by just adding an s to the end of the word. The plural of cuff is cuffs.
10. Some nouns change the vowel sound to become plural. The plural of man is men, the plural of tooth is teeth.
11. Some Old English plurals are still in use. The plural of child is children, the plural of ox is oxen.
12. Some nouns that end with is, the ending is changed to es to form the plural. The plural of crisis is crises.
13. Some nouns that end with um, the um is replaced with an a. The plural for datum is data, the plural for medium is media.
14. Some nouns that end with on, the on is replaced with an a. The plural of phenomenon is phenomena.
15. Some nouns that end is a, change the a at the end of the word to ae. The plural of larva is larvae.
16. Some nouns that end in ex or ix, the plural is formed by changing the x to ces. The plural of index is indeces, the plural of matrix is matrices.
17. Some nouns that end in us, the plural is formed by changing the us to i. The plural of cactus is cacti, the plural of radius is radii.
18. Nouns ending in eau, the plural is formed by adding x to the end of the word. The plural of bureau is bureaux.
19. There are any number of other variations such as the plural of tempo is tempi; the plural of cherub is cherubim; the plural of person is people. But language evolves over time or we would still be speaking like Shakespeare. Even as I type these rules, some are officially amended. For example, the plural forms indeces and indexes are both being accepted as correct plurals for index and the plural forms bureaux and bureaus are both being accepted as correct plurals for bureau, as are many other irregular plurals being found in standard dictionaries with modernized plural options.

Answer 3

The plural form of most nouns is created by adding the letter '-s' to the end of the word. For example:

• dog > dogs
• cat > cats
• hour > hours
• minute > minutes
• chair > chairs
• cup > cups

However,

For nouns that end in -s, -x, -ch, -sh add '-es' to the end of the word. For example:

• gas > gases
• fox > foxes
• church > churches
• bush > bushes
• kiss > kisses

Most nouns that end in a consonant + 'o' also form the plural by adding '-es'. For example:

• tomato > tomatoes
• potato > potatoes
• hero > heroes
• volcano > volcanoes

... but there are exceptions. For many 'new' words or words with an Italian/Spanish origin that end in '-o', just add '-s' to form the plural. For example:

• photo > photos
• cello > cellos
• memo > memos
• piano > pianos

Nouns that end in a single '-z', add '-zes' to the end of the word. For example:

• quiz > quizzes

Nouns ending in a consonant + '-y', change the '-y' to '-ies'. For example:

• candy > candies
• party > parties
• lady > ladies
• baby > babies
• gallery > galleries

Nouns ending in '-is', change the '-is' to '-es'. For example:

• crisis > crises
• oasis > oases
• hypothesis > hypotheses
• thesis > theses

Most nouns ending in '-f' / '-fe', drop the '-f' and add '-ves'. For example:

• calf > calves
• knife > knives
• leaf > leaves
• wolf > wolves
• elf > elves

... but there are exceptions. For example:

• chef > chefs
• dwarf > dwarfs
• roof > roofs
• cafe > cafes

Answer 4

When pluralizing a family name, you almost always add an '-s' to the end of the word, unless the name ends in '-s', '-x', '-ch', '-sh' or '-z' in which case you add '-es' to the end of the word.

When a proper noun ends with a hard 'z' sound, there's no need to add anything to form the plural. For example, for the surname Hodges you could just say "The Hodges are coming over this afternoon".

The names of companies and organisations are usually regarded as singular , regardless of their ending.

The names of sports teams are treated as plurals, regardless of the spelling.

Answer 5

Irregular plurals do not follow any rules, that is the meaning of 'irregular'.

There are various ways of forming regular plurals, and their rules can be learned.

A regular plural is a noun to which an -s or an -es is added to form the plural. An irregular plural is a plural formed in some other way. There are many forms of irregular plural nouns.

• Nouns ending in the letter -o, sometimes they are pluralized by adding -s, while other words must be pluralized by adding es. These words must be memorized, because there is no simple rule to explain the differences. (echo, echoes or hero, heroes)
• Most nouns ending in o preceded by a vowel are pluralized by simply adding -s. (photo, photos or tattoo, tattoos)
• Nouns ending in -ypreceeded by a consonant replace the ending y with -ies. (baby, babies or story, stories)
• Nouns ending in -ypreceeded by a vowel (a complex vowel sound), an -s is simply added, as usual. (day, days or turkey, turkeys)
• Some nouns ending in -f or -fe, replace the ending -f or -fe with -ves. (life, lives or knife, knives)
• Some nouns change the vowel sound in becoming plural. (man, men or goose, geese)
• Some plurals are left over from Old English; many plurals come from other languages. Examples of these irregular plural nouns are:

singular / plural

child / children

ox / oxen

cactus / cacti

alumnus / alumni

datum / data

medium / media

oasis / oases

basis / bases

larva / larvae

antenna /antennae

index / indeces

person / people

Answer 6

A plural noun is a word for two or more people, places, or things. Here are some rules to make singular nouns into plural nouns:

1. To make most nouns plural, add an s or es to the end of the word. These are called regular plurals (or regular nouns). Example: the plural of neighbor is neighbors, the plural of flower is flowers.
2. Nouns ending in s, z, ch, sh, or x, add es to the end of the word to make it plural. The plural of dish is dishes.
3. Some nouns ending with o are pluralized by adding and es to the end of the word. The plural of tomato is tomatoes.
4. Most nouns ending with o are pluralized by adding s to the end of the word. The plural of photo is photos.
5. Nouns that form their plural in some other way are called irregular plural (or irregular nouns). Example: the plural of child is children, the plural of foot is feet.
6. When a noun ends in a y, change the y at the end of the word to an ies. The plural of berry is berries.
7. Some nouns ending with y, preceded by a vowel, are pluralized by just adding s to the end of the word. The plural of day is days.
8. Nouns ending with f or fe, change to f or the fe to ves to form the plural. The plural of life is lives.
9. Nouns ending with ff are usually pluralized by just adding an s to the end of the word. The plural of cuff is cuffs.
10. Some nouns change the vowel sound to become plural. The plural of man is men, the plural of tooth is teeth.
11. Some Old English plurals are still in use. The plural of child is children, the plural of ox is oxen.
12. Some nouns that end with is, the ending is changed to es to form the plural. The plural of crisis is crises.
13. Some nouns that end with um, the um is replaced with an a. The plural for datum is data, the plural for medium is media.
14. Some nouns that end with on, the on is replaced with an a. The plural of phenomenon is phenomena.
15. Some nouns that end is a, change the a at the end of the word to ae. The plural of larva is larvae.
16. Some nouns that end in ex or ix, the plural is formed by changing the x to ces. The plural of index is indeces, the plural of matrix is matrices.
17. Some nouns that end in us, the plural is formed by changing the us to i. The plural of cactus is cacti, the plural of radius is radii.
18. Nouns ending in eau, the plural is formed by adding x to the end of the word. The plural of bureau is bureaux.
19. There are any number of other variations such as the plural of tempo is tempi; the plural of cherub is cherubim; the plural of person is people. But language evolves over time or we would still be speaking like Shakespeare.
20. Even as I type these rules, some are officially amended. For example, the plural forms indeces and indexes are both being accepted as correct plurals for index and the plural forms; bureaux and bureaus are both being accepted as correct plurals for bureau, as are many other irregular plurals being found in standard dictionaries with modernized plural options.

Answer 7

"Rules Of Subject Verb Agreement"

1. Use verbs that agree with a subject, not with a noun that is part of a modifying phrase or clause between verb and subject:

"The pot of eggs is boiling on the stove."

2. Use singular or plural verbs that agree with the subject, not with the complement of the subject:

"My favorite type of movie is comedies," but "Comedies are my favorite type of movie."

3. Use singular verbs with singular indefinite pronouns - each, the "-bodies," "-ones," and "-things" (anybody, everyone,nothing), and the like:

"Neither is correct." (And, just as in rule number 1, the presence of a modifier is irrelevant: "Neither of them iscorrect.")

4. Use plural verbs with plural indefinite pronouns:

"Many outcomes are possible."

5. Use singular verbs with uncountable nouns that follow an indefinite pronoun:

"All the paint is dried up."

6. Use plural verbs with countable nouns that follow an indefinite pronoun:

"All the nails are spilled on the floor."

7. Use plural verbs with compound subjects that includeand:

"The dog and the cat are outside."

8. Use plural verbs or singular verbs, depending on the form of the noun nearest the verb, with compound subjects that include noror or:

"Either the dog or the cats are responsible for the mess." ("Either the cats or the dog is responsible for the mess" is also technically correct but is awkward.)

9. Use singular verbs with inverted subjects that include singular nouns:

"Why is my hat outside in the rain?"

10. Use plural verbs with inverted subjects (those beginning with the expletive there rather than the actual subject) that include plural nouns:

"There are several hats outside in the rain."

11. Use singular or plural verbs with collective nouns depending on meaning:

"His staff is assembled," but "Staff are asked to go to the conference room immediately." (In the first sentence, the emphasis is on the body of employees; in the second sentence, the focus is on compliance by each individual in the body of employees.)

12. Use singular verbs for designations of entities, such as nations or organizations, or compositions, such as books or films:

"The United Nations is headquartered in New York."

13. Use singular verbs for subjects plural in form but singular in meaning:

"Physics is my favorite subject."

14. Use singular or plural verbs for subjects plural in form but plural or singular in meaning depending on the context:

"The economics of the situation are complicated," but "Economics is a complicated topic."

15. Use plural verbs for subjects plural in form and meaning:

"The tweezers are in the cupboard."

16. Use plural verbs in constructions of the form "one of those (blank) who . . .":

"I am one of those eccentrics who do not tweet."

17. Use singular verbs in constructions of the form "the only one of those (blank) who . . .":

"I am the only one of my friends who does not tweet."

18. Use singular verbs in constructions of the form "the number of (blank) . . .":

"The number of people here boggles the mind."

19. Use plural verbs in constructions of the form "a number of (blank) . . .":

"A number of people here disagree."

20. Use singular verbs in construction of the forms "every (blank) . . ." and "many a (blank) . . .":

Answer 8

1. Add s to most nouns.

2. For nouns ending is s, z, x, ch, or sh, add es.

3. For nouns ending in y, preceded by a consonant, change to ies.

4. For nouns ending in y, preceded by a vowel, add s.

5. For nouns ending in o, preceded by a consonant, add es.

6. For nouns ending in o, preceded by a vowel, add s.

7. For some nouns, there are two correct forms. (ex. zeros and zeroes)

8. For musical nouns ending in o, add s. (ex. solos)

9. For some nouns ending in f or fe, change to ves. (exceptions include chiefs)

10. Change the spelling of some words. (ex. mouse->mice)

11. Add s to the first/primary noun of hyphenated words. (ex. sisters-in-law)

12. For nouns ending in ful, add s. (ex. spoonfuls)

13. For proper nouns that do not end in s, add s. (ex. The Smiths)

14. For proper nouns that do end in s, add es. (ex. The Joneses)

15. For some nouns, there are two correct forms. (ex. dwarfs and dwarves)

16. For nouns ending in a silent s, do not change the spelling, but pronounce the s. (ex. corps)

17. For some nouns, do not change the spelling nor the pronunciation. (ex. fish)

Answer 9

A plural noun is a word for two or more people, places, or things. Here are some rules to make singular nouns into plural nouns:

1. To make most nouns plural, add an s or es to the end of the word. These are called regular plurals (or regular nouns). Example: the plural of neighbor is neighbors, the plural of flower is flowers.
2. Nouns that form their plural in some other way are called irregular plural (or irregular nouns). Example: the plural of child is children, the plural of foot is feet.
3. Nouns ending in s, z, ch, sh, or x, add es to the end of the word to make it plural. The plural of dish is dishes.
4. Some nouns ending with o are pluralized by adding and es to the end of the word. The plural of tomato is tomatoes.
5. Most nouns ending with o are pluralized by adding s to the end of the word. The plural of photo is photos.
6. When a noun ends in a y, change the y at the end of the word to an ies. The plural of berry is berries.
7. Some nouns ending with y, preceded by a vowel, are pluralized by just adding s to the end of the word. The plural of day is days.
8. Nouns ending with f or fe, change to f or the fe to ves to form the plural. The plural of life is lives.
9. Nouns ending with ff are usually pluralized by just adding an s to the end of the word. The plural of cuff is cuffs.
10. Some nouns change the vowel sound to become plural. The plural of man is men, the plural of tooth is teeth.
11. Some Old English plurals are still in use. The plural of child is children, the plural of ox is oxen.
12. Some nouns that end with is, the ending is changed to es to form the plural. The plural of crisis is crises.
13. Some nouns that end with um, the um is replaced with an a. The plural for datum is data, the plural for medium is media.
14. Some nouns that end with on, the on is replaced with an a. The plural of phenomenon is phenomena.
15. Some nouns that end is a, change the a at the end of the word to ae. The plural of larva is larvae.
16. Some nouns that end in ex or ix, the plural is formed by changing the x to ces. The plural of index is indeces, the plural of matrix is matrices.
17. Some nouns that end in us, the plural is formed by changing the us to i. The plural of cactus is cacti, the plural of radius is radii.
18. Nouns ending in eau, the plural is formed by adding x to the end of the word. The plural of bureau is bureaux.
19. There are any number of other variations such as the plural of tempo is tempi; the plural of cherub is cherubim; the plural of person is people. But language evolves over time or we would still be speaking like Shakespeare. Even as I type these rules, some are officially amended. For example, the plural forms indeces and indexes are both being accepted as correct plurals for index and the plural forms bureaux and bureaus are both being accepted as correct plurals for bureau, as are many other irregular plurals being found in standard dictionaries with modernized plural options.