# Number of Nouns: Rules and Examples | SwaVid

Number of nouns: rules, worked examples and a quick check for Class 6 to 12 English grammar, CBSE and ICSE. Free practice on SwaVid.

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# Number of nouns: rules and examples

## The rule, step by step

## Check yourself

## Common mistakes

## Frequently asked questions

## Keep practising

### Quick reference

### What is the rule for number of nouns?

### What mistakes do students make in number of nouns?

### What is the main idea to remember in number of nouns?

### Free English grammar test

### More in The Noun

Short answer. Most nouns add s. Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch or sh add es. A consonant plus y changes to ies. A vowel plus y just adds s.

1 . Choose the right plural. jury

2 . Choose the right plural. The farmer fed both ___ in the shed. (calf)

Look at the last letters of the noun.

Most nouns add s. Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch or sh add es. A consonant plus y changes to ies. A vowel plus y just adds s.

Wrong: childrens. Right: children. (Change inside)

Look at the last letters of the noun.

Your child's level and 3 topics to fix first.

All the topics in this chapter, one rule at a time.

- Add es . A noun ending in s, x, z, ch or sh adds es. Say the plural aloud: you hear an extra sound.
- The y rule . Look at the letter before y. A vowel (a, e, i, o, u) plus y keeps the y and adds s. A consonant plus y changes y to ies.
- Change f to ves . Many nouns ending in f or fe change to ves, but a few, like roof and chief, just add s. Learn them as you meet them.
- Some nouns break the rules . Some nouns change inside (man, men). Some stay the same (sheep, sheep). Many change f to ves (leaf, leaves). Learn these plurals by heart.
- Change inside . Man becomes men and foot becomes feet. Child becomes children and ox becomes oxen. Children already means more than one.
- leaf, leaves
- knife, knives
- crisis, crises
- bacterium, bacteria
- criterion, criteria
- cactus, cacti
- childrens → children Change inside

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- [English grammar](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar)
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- [15 Free English grammar test Your child's level and 3 topics to fix first.](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/test)
- [More in The Noun All the topics in this chapter, one rule at a time.](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/the-noun)