1.1. One or more than one? (plurals)

Importante

 

  • The general rule to form the plural in English is add an 's' to the noun, as in Spanish:

computer-computers

However, not all plurals end in -s.

 

  • Some add -es. For example, when the noun ends in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, or sometimes -o.

match-matches

dish-dishes

bus-buses

box-boxes

potato-potatoes (there are exceptions such as radio-radios)

 

Imagen de Tom Rolfe en Flickr. Licencia CC. 
  • When the noun ends in consonant + y, it is changed into 'i' and we add -es.

family-families

But careful! if it ends in vowel + y, there is no change:

guy-guys

 

  • When the noun ends in 'f' or 'fe', it is changed into 'ves'.

shelf-shelves

life-lives

 

  • Finally, there are irregular plurals that we will see in the next section.

 

Comprueba lo aprendido

Complete the gaps with the plural form of these nouns. Have a look at the rules above whenever you need them.

1. thief - 6. tax -

2. book - 7. fly -

3. bush - 8. half-

4. baby - 9. knife-

5. day - 10. wish -

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If you want to practice more on the regular plurals of nouns, click here.

Ejercicio Resuelto

How is the plural with -s or -es pronounced in English?

There are three different ways. Do you remember the rules you learned in unit 1 (topic 3) for the pronunciation of the third person singular of verbs in the Present Simple? The rules are the same! We must know the difference between voiced sounds (when the vocal cords vibrate) and voiceless sounds (when there is no vibration).

Let's remember the rules:

  • When the preceding sound is voiced, the -s or -es is pronounced /z/: table-tables.
  • When the preceding sound is voiceless, it is pronounced /s/: stop-stops.
  • When the preceding sound is sibilant (/s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʧ/ or /ʤ/), it is pronounced /Iz/: kiss-kisses, buzz-buzzes, wish-wishes, watch-watches, bridge-bridges.

Have a look at these plural nouns and place them in the appropriate place according to how they are pronounced. Use our robot if you need to know the pronunciation of the words.

friends, visits, castles, forts, places, teams, sites, changes, buses

/s/ /z/
/Iz/
     

After you have checked the pronunciation, pronounce them aloud.

 

Curiosidad

The national symbols of Wales: the leek and the daffodil

The true origins of the leek as the emblem of the Welsh is now confined to myth and legend.

One such legend associates it with St. David, the Patron Saint of Wales. A legend tells that he ordered his soldiers to wear the leek in a battle against the pagan Saxon invaders of Britain. Every year on St. David's Day, every Welsh soldier in Welsh regiment wears them in their cap badges.

The daffodil is another popular Welsh symbol, certainly more attractive and better-smelling. Although its origin as a symbol for Wales is not clear, it is curious to note that the word for 'daffodil' and for 'leek' are the same in Welsh. Coincidence?

Imagen de  Martin LaBar en Flickr

Licencia CC
Now you know the rules for regular plurals in English. In the next section you are going to learn irregular plurals. Let's go!