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In the English language, plural words DO NOT always end with an "s" or "es" suffix, since foreign words are often borrowed permanently in English
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Alumni, alumnae, dice [di is an alternate plural], curricula, deer, cattle, fish, geese, stadia, teeth, feet, these, those, them, you and we are examples of common words which end in letters other than "s" or "es". Some of the words have retained their original Latin plural letters and some are merely exceptions to the "s" and "es" rule to which you refer.
The following entry from AOL's Homework Help :
You already know how to make most nouns into plurals just by adding an -s at the end of the word. There are plenty of words that do not follow the rule, however.
Here is an easy case to remember: If a word ended in -s, -z, -x, -sh, or -ch, add -es to the end.
Examples: dress - dresses; fizz - fizzes; fox - foxes; wish - wishes; watch - watches.
When a noun ends in -o, you also have to add -es.
Examples: hero - heroes; tomato - tomatoes
Exceptions to the rule: studio, piano, kangaroo, zoo, buffalo, cargo, motto, . Just add -s to these words.
If a noun ends in a consonant plus the letter "y", change the "y" to "i" and add -es.
Examples: city - cities; country - countries
When a noun ends in -f or -fe, you change the "f" to "v" and add -es.
Examples: knife - knives; half - halves; scarf - scarves
Here is one that always gave me trouble. I hope this makes it easier for you!
Sometimes a singular noun ends in -um or -on. To make it a plural, change the -um to an -a.
Examples: curriculum - curricula; phenomenon - phenomena
How about nouns that end in -ex or -ix? To make them plural, change that ending to -ices.
Examples: vertex - vertices; index - indices
Nouns that end in -us become plurals by changing the ending to -i.
Example: stimulus - stimuli
Some nouns are always plural, but do not end in "s".
Examples: cattle, police, people.
Read an English grammar textbook and/or a dictionary to learn more about plural word endings.
P.S. Thanks to AOL for their excellent explanation!
An oddball plural : one die, two or more dice. One mouse, two mice. One goose, two geese. One tableau, two tableaux. BUT -- One moose, two moose. One deer, two deer.
More InformationEnglish is generally considered to be one of the most 'irregular' of common languages. That means that it's difficult to learn because there are so few structural rules, and because the few that exist are broken constantly in unpredictable ways.(Examples of more 'regular' languages include Latin and any of the Romance languages -- French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.) (Even less 'regular' examples abound, such as Mandarin Chinese and Navajo.)
This irregularity in language stems largely from the mixed heritage of the original English, and continues to the present day with the incorporation of the influences of large bodies of immigrants to the UK and especially to the US, a nation of relatively short heritage, but long diversity.
More information
There are also plurals derived from Old English, namely ox, oxen and child, children. Brethren is also such a plural although the singular form of "brether", a word form of brother, has disappeared, as well as undergoing a change in meaning.
What else can I help you with?
What is the plural form of trochlea?
The plural form of trochlea is trochleae. If a singular word ends in an "a" then add an "e" at the end to make it plural.
What words can you add es to?
Words that end in s, x , ch, sh or z require an -es to form the plural.
What is the plural for summary?
Oh, dude, the plural for "summary" is "summaries." Like, you take that word "summary" and add an "ies" at the end to make it plural. It's like magic, but with words. So, if you have multiple summaries, you've got yourself some "summaries."
Which singular noun can you add an 's' to the end to make it plural and then another 's' to make it singular again?
One word would be "prince". Add an -s and you have the plural - "princes". Add another -s and you have "princess", a word in singular form.
What are two words that end in z that you can add the suffix es to?
amazesapologizesbaptizesbrutalizesblazesbreezescrazescriminalizescustomizesdozesenergizesemphasizesfantasizesfreezesgazesgeneralizesglamorizeshazeshomogenizesmazesmemorizesnaturalizesoptimizesprizespopularizesrealizessanitizessizessummarizessterilizestheorizestraumatizestantalizestranquilizestrivializes
What is the plural of borrador?
borradores Words that end in consonants add -es to be made plural; words that end in vowels add -s.
How do you make words ending in is plural?
To make words ending in "is" plural, change "is" to "es" at the end of the word. For example, "analysis" becomes "analyses," and "thesis" becomes "theses."
How do you make the word wash plural?
The plural form for the noun wash is washes; add an "es" to the end.
How do you make Johnson plural?
Simply add the letter s to the end of the word. The plural of Johnson is Johnsons.
How do you make Garcia plural?
To make "Garcia" plural, simply add an "s" to the end: "Garcias".
What is the plural for fair?
The plural form of fair is fairs. You add an s on the end to make it plural.
How to make the word request plural?
To make the word 'request' (as a noun) into its plural form, add 's' at the end of the word: requests.
How do you make the plural form of a singular noun that ends in o?
For words that end in O, add either s or es.
How do you make Savannah plural?
To make "Savannah" plural, you add an "s" to the end, resulting in "Savannahs."
How do you make baffle plural?
The plural of "baffle" is "baffles." To make it plural, simply add an "s" to the end of the word.
If a word end with an s how do you make it plural?
You usually add "-es. Many Latin-origin words ending in -us form plurals by changing -us to -i.
How do you make word ending in a vowel plural?
To make a word ending in a vowel plural, simply add -s to the end of the word. For example, "cat" becomes "cats" in plural form.
