number/quantity word + plural nounAfter numbers bigger than one and quantity words like many, use the plural noun form.
Plural Nouns
A1Use plural nouns for more than one. Most nouns add -s, some add -es or -ies, and some common nouns change completely.
What you'll learn
- Make regular plurals with -s.
- Add -es after nouns ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, and -z.
- Change consonant + y to -ies.
- Use common irregular plurals like children and men.
- Choose singular after one and plural after larger numbers.
Structure
one + singular nounAfter one, keep the noun singular, even if the idea is countable.
Build a sentence
Quantity
Noun
twobooks
I have two books.
Most nouns add -s in the plural.
When to use
Counting things
Use plural nouns when you count more than one item: two bags, five buses, ten cities.
Shopping and lists
Use plurals for things you buy or need in quantity: three tomatoes, two boxes, four dishes.
People and animals
Some common words for people and animals have special plural forms: two men, three children, four mice.
Markers
twothreemanyseverala lot of
Spelling
most nouns
→ + sbook → booksends in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z
→ + esbox → boxesconsonant + y
→ drop y, + iescity → citiesCommon mistakes
Wrong
I have two book.
Correct
I have two books.
After two, the countable noun must be plural.
Wrong
We need three boxs.
Correct
We need three boxes.
Nouns ending in -x take -es in the plural.
Wrong
They visited two citys.
Correct
They visited two cities.
After consonant + y, change y to -ies in the plural.
Wrong
Two childs are in the park.
Correct
Two children are in the park.
Child has an irregular plural: children, not childs.
Wrong
She bought one apples.
Correct
She bought one apple.
After one, use the singular noun.
Common misconceptions
❝ All plural nouns end in -s. ❞
Many plurals do, but some need -es or -ies, and some common nouns change completely: men, children, mice.
❝ If a noun is countable, it should be plural after any number word. ❞
Use singular after one and plural after numbers bigger than one.
Skills in this rule (6)
ADD_S_TO_MOST_NOUNSw5Add -s to most nouns to make them plural
Use -s when you talk about more than one thing with most common nouns: one book, two books; one car, three cars.
ADD_ES_AFTER_CH_SH_S_X_Zw5Add -es after nouns ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, or -z
Some noun endings need -es in the plural: watch → watches, box → boxes, bus → buses.
CHANGE_Y_TO_IESw4Change consonant + y to -ies in the plural
When a noun ends in consonant + y, drop y and add -ies: baby → babies, city → cities.
USE_COMMON_IRREGULAR_PLURALSw5Use common irregular plural forms
Some nouns do not take regular -s or -es. Learn common pairs like man → men, child → children, and mouse → mice.
MATCH_PLURAL_TO_NUMBERw4Use plural nouns after numbers and words like many
After numbers bigger than one and words like many, several, or a lot of, the countable noun is plural.
KEEP_SINGULAR_AFTER_ONEw4Keep the noun singular after one
After one, use the singular noun: one apple, one class, one child.