One, Two, Many
Most plurals just add -s — then English throws in -es, -ies, -ves, and a handful of words that refuse all rules. Learn the pattern and the exceptions.
The Rules
Four endings, one job
English has one main rule — add -s — plus three spelling friends. Read the ending of the word and pick the matching plural.
Most nouns: +s
the default — just add s
book → books · car → cars · day → days
s, x, ch, sh: +es
add es so the word stays sayable
bus → buses · box → boxes · watch → watches
Consonant + y: -ies
change y to i, add es
city → cities · baby → babies
f / fe: -ves
many words change f to v
knife → knives · leaf → leaves
⚠️ When the word ends like the rule, the plural follows the rule.
Irregular Plurals
Six words that refuse the rules
These six change completely — no -s, no -es, no -ies. Match each singular with its plural and say them out loud.
⚠️ No pattern here — these are the words you simply memorize.
Common Mistakes
Five traps to escape
The double plural, the forgotten y-change, and the -s that never comes. Here is how to escape them all.
I saw two mouses.
I saw two mice.
💡 Mouse is irregular: mouse → mice.
Three childs are playing.
Three children are playing.
💡 Child is irregular: child → children.
The wolfs howl at night.
The wolves howl at night.
💡 Many f words become -ves: wolf → wolves.
I love this citys.
I love these cities.
💡 Consonant + y → -ies: city → cities.
We have two sheeps.
We have two sheep.
💡 Sheep stays sheep — one sheep, two sheep.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
I have two ___ and one cat.
💡 Info supplémentaire2 sections
No-Change Plurals
Same word, two jobs
A few nouns keep one form for singular and plural. The context does the counting: one fish, three fish.
Plural-Only Nouns
Two halves, always together
Some things come in pairs, so their names only exist in the plural. You can never say a trouser or a scissors.
Clothes you wear on legs
trousers, shorts, jeans, leggingsThese jeans are new
Tools with two blades
scissors, glasses, binocularsWhere are my glasses?
Pairs, always
say: a pair of…A pair of scissors
⚠️ With these, the verb is plural too: my glasses are, not is.