PLURAL NOUNS EXERCISE 1 — REGULAR FORMS (ESL)
level: Beginner (A1/A2)
Forming plurals in English follows a small set of rules — but each rule has its own spelling pattern, and knowing which one applies to a given noun takes practice. This exercise covers the main regular plural patterns.
Grammar review
Plural nouns — regular formation rules
Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es. The spelling of the base noun determines which ending to use.
Most nouns — add -s:
The default plural ending in English. Most nouns you encounter will follow this pattern.
Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z — add -es:
These endings need the extra vowel to make the plural pronounceable.
brush → brushes watch → watches fox → foxes
Nouns ending in consonant + -y — change y to i, add -es:
city → cities baby → babies family → families
But vowel + y: just add -s → day → days, key → keys, boy → boys
Nouns ending in -f or -fe — often change to -ves:
leaf → leaves knife → knives half → halves
But some keep the -f: roof → roofs chief → chiefs
Nouns ending in -o — most add -es:
volcano → volcanoes hero → heroes
But: photo → photos piano → pianos radio → radios
How to approach this exercise:
For each noun, identify its ending and apply the matching rule above.
Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es. The spelling of the base noun determines which ending to use.
Most nouns — add -s:
The default plural ending in English. Most nouns you encounter will follow this pattern.
Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z — add -es:
These endings need the extra vowel to make the plural pronounceable.
brush → brushes watch → watches fox → foxes
Nouns ending in consonant + -y — change y to i, add -es:
city → cities baby → babies family → families
But vowel + y: just add -s → day → days, key → keys, boy → boys
Nouns ending in -f or -fe — often change to -ves:
leaf → leaves knife → knives half → halves
But some keep the -f: roof → roofs chief → chiefs
Nouns ending in -o — most add -es:
volcano → volcanoes hero → heroes
But: photo → photos piano → pianos radio → radios
How to approach this exercise:
For each noun, identify its ending and apply the matching rule above.
Write the correct plural form of each noun.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER NOUN EXERCISES:
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Plural nouns 3 (irregular) (B1/B2)
Countable or uncountable? 1 (A2/B1)
Countable or uncountable? 2 (A2/B1)
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Plural nouns 3 (irregular) (B1/B2)
Countable or uncountable? 1 (A2/B1)
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