This article details the spelling rules for turning singular nouns in plural nouns.

Note, for a look at the general principles of singular and plural nouns, see Singular and Plural Nouns‏‎.

Most nouns in English are regular. To make them plural we simply add -s to the end:

In some cases, however, we need to do more when and we change the spelling.

• If a noun ends in –ch, –sh, –s, or –x we usually add -es to the end to make it plural:

The reason is pretty simple, trying to say these words without the /e/ sound and you’ll see what happens!

• If a noun ends in a consonant and -y then we take off the -y and add -ies to the end:

• Most nouns which end in -f or -fe change the ending to –ves.

Note that with this last one, most people say roofs with an /f/ sound, but write rooves with a /v/ sound.

• If the noun ends in –o then we usually add an –s to the end as with most regular nouns.

• But a few nouns which end in –o add an –es to the end: