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English plurals
this counts as two grammar points: one main point, and a number of nuances that together count again
In English, plural morphology on nouns denote that there is more than one of something.
Regular plurals
Regular plurals are formed with the addition of «s» or «es».
- Nouns ending in «s», «ch», «x», or «z» take the suffix «es»:
- box<n><pl> ↔ boxes
- match<n><pl> ↔ matches
- kiss<n><pl> ↔ kisses
- Otherwise the suffix is «s»:
- snake<n><pl> ↔ snakes
- window<n><pl> ↔ windows
- boy<n><pl> ↔ boys
- Nouns that end in «o» are unpredictable: some take «s» and some take «es»:
- potato<n><pl> ↔ potatoes
- piano<n><pl> ↔ pianos
Regular suffix with stem alternations
- If a noun ends in a «y» that's preceded by a consonant, the «y» turns to «i» and the suffix is «es»:
- baby<n><pl> ↔ babies
- In some (but not all) nouns that end in «f» or «fe», the «f»/«fe» is replaced by «ve» before the suffix «s» is added:
- leaf<n><pl> ↔ leaves
- life<n><pl> ↔ lives
- Some stems that end in «ex» or «ix» change the «x» to «c» before adding «es»:
- matrix<n><pl> ↔ matrices
No suffix
- Some plural forms are denoted only by a stem alternation; these are not predictable:
- tooth<n><pl> ↔ teeth
- mouse<n><pl> ↔ mice
- man<n>Template:Man ↔ men
- crisis<n>Template:Man ↔ crises
- diagnosis<n>Template:Man ↔ diagnoses
- Some nouns have identical singular and plural forms:
- deer<n>Template:Man ↔ deer
- fish<n>Template:Man ↔ fish
- moose<n>Template:Man ↔ moose
Other irregular plurals
- There are a number of other unpredictable patterns:
- addendum<n>Template:Man ↔ addenda
- corpus<n>Template:Man ↔ corpora
- alumnus<n>Template:Man ↔ alumni
- child<n>Template:Man ↔ children
