How to Use Proper Plurals in English

Plural nouns play a crucial role in English grammar. They refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. In this article, we’ll explore the rules for forming plurals and provide examples to help you use them correctly.

1. Regular Plural Nouns

Most singular nouns become plural by adding a suffix, usually -s or -es. Here are some general guidelines:

• Add -s to the end of most singular nouns:
  • dog → dogs
  • book → books
  • car → cars
• For nouns ending in -s, -ch, -sh, -x, or -z, add -es:
  • bus → buses
  • box → boxes
  • dish → dishes

2. Irregular Plural Nouns

Irregular plural nouns do not follow the standard rules. Instead, they have unique forms that must be memorized. Some examples include:

• child → children
• man → men
• woman → women

3. Articles with Plural Nouns

When using plural nouns, keep the following points in mind:

• Plural nouns can be used with the definite article (e.g., “the”) or no article at all:
  • Incorrect: “I have a books in my locker.”
  • Correct: “I have books in my locker.”
  • Correct: “I have the books in my locker.”
• If there is an adjective in front of a plural noun, it is unnecessary to use an indefinite article (e.g., “a” or “an”):
  • Correct: “The big dogs are playful.”
  • Incorrect: “The a big dogs are playful.”