How do I form plural nouns?
Most nouns form the plural by adding an S.
boy, boys dog, dogs
When the noun ends in S, SS, CH, SH, X, Z, or ZH, form the plural by adding ES.
bush, bushes box, boxes Adams, Adamses Aziz, Azizes watch, watches
If a noun ends in a Y following a consonant, change the Y to I and add ES to form the plural. Some nouns ending in O take an ES to form the plural. Others simply take an S.
ally, allies ceremony, ceremonies hero, heroes potato, potatoes solo, solos
If a noun ends in a Y or an O following a vowel, add an S as for most other nouns.
delay, delays day, days radio, radios studio, studios
Some nouns that end in F change the F to V and add ES in the plural:
half, halves knife, knives wife, wives
English has a few irregular nouns that form the plural by changing an interior vowel or adding EN:
man, men woman, women goose, geese mouse, mice ox, oxen
brother, brethren (or brothers, which is more common -- brethren has a slightly different meaning)
A very few nouns are the same in singular and plural:
deer moose sheep
These irregular nouns don't follow the rules -- that's why they're called irregular! You must memorize their forms.
