English Learning for Beginners: Plural Forms

Dialogue

Current Situation

In English, when we talk about more than one item, we usually change the form of the noun. This is called making it “plural.” For example, one “cat” becomes two “cats.” It’s a fundamental part of speaking and writing correctly. While many plurals follow simple rules, some words have special, “irregular” forms that you just need to learn. Understanding plural forms helps you communicate clearly whether you’re talking about one thing or many!

Key Phrases

• what’s all this mess?: An informal way to ask about a very untidy or disorganized situation.

  Example: “I came home and saw toys everywhere. What’s all this mess?”

• missing their partners: Used for items that usually come in pairs (like socks, shoes) when one is lost or separated.

  Example: “I only found one glove. It’s missing its partner.”

• clean more often: Advice given to someone who doesn’t clean regularly enough.

  Example: “Your desk is covered in papers; you should clean more often.”

• a treasure hunt: A game or activity where you search for hidden items, or metaphorically, an exciting search for something.

  Example: “Finding those old family photos was like a treasure hunt!”

• I promise!: Used to give an assurance or a firm commitment to do something.

  Example: “Don’t worry, I promise I will finish my homework on time.”

• totally forgot: Completely forgotten about something.

  Example: “Oh no, I totally forgot about my dentist appointment today!”

Grammar Points: Plural Forms

Most nouns become plural by adding -s. However, there are several important rules and exceptions:

• Most Nouns: Add -s
  • book → books
  • cat → cats
  • key → keys
• Nouns ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -z: Add -es
  • bus → buses
  • glass → glasses
  • brush → brushes
  • watch → watches
  • box → boxes
• Nouns ending in a Consonant + -y: Change -y to -i and add -es
  • baby → babies
  • city → cities

  Note: If the noun ends in a vowel + -y, just add -s (e.g., toy → toys).

• Nouns ending in -o: Add -es (Common for many, but with exceptions)
  • potato → potatoes
  • tomato → tomatoes
  • Exception: photo → photos
• Irregular Plurals: Do not follow regular rules (You need to memorize these!)
  • man → men
  • woman → women
  • child → children
  • foot → feet
  • tooth → teeth
  • mouse → mice
  • person → people
• Nouns that stay the same in plural form
  • sheep → sheep
  • fish → fish
  • deer → deer

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Change the following words to their plural form.

1. book → _________
2. glass → _________
3. baby → _________
4. potato → _________
5. man → _________
6. fish → _________
7. box → _________
8. key → _________

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct plural form of the word in parentheses.

1. I have two (cat) _________ at home.
2. She bought three (dress) _________ for the party.
3. Many (child) _________ are playing in the park.
4. I need to brush my (tooth) _________ twice a day.
5. There are five (bus) _________ waiting at the station.
6. Can you pass me the (tomato) _________?

Answers