Plural Nouns

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. A singular noun names only one person, place, thing, or idea.

• one boy
• one forest
• one apple
• one piece

A plural noun names two or more people, places, things, or ideas.

• some boys
• six forests
• two apples
• many pieces

What do you notice about each of the words in the plural list above?

Practice - In each blank write S if the noun is singular, or write P if the noun is plural.

Are the bold words in the following sentences singular or plural? Write the P above each bold word that is plural, or write S above each bold word that is singular.

9. The dogs were dozing in their usual places by the fire when the knock came.
10. They jumped at the cabin door, sniffing and whining.
11. I opened the door a few inches and peered into the darkness.
12. A man stood in the shadows, back a ways from the cabin. 

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Over the next four lessons you will learn eight rules for forming the plural forms of nouns. In this lesson we will practice with Rules 1 and 2.

Rule 1 - To form the plural of most nouns you simply add an s to the end of the noun.

Rule 2 - If the noun ends in sh, ch, x, s, or z add es to make it plural.

Practice - Write the plural form in the blank after each word.

29. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.
    
    a)  I thought about how she had clung to the doges the last few daies for comfort.
    b)  I poured cupes of strong herb teas.
    c)  He held the cup awkwardly with two hands and gulped.
    d)  We sat on benchs in our cabin to eat supper.
     
30. Choose the sentence that is NOT written correctly.
    
    a)  Mama kept herbs in her medicine bag.
    b)  I warmed water in several kettles over the fire.
    c)  The darkened cabines were hard to see at night.
    d)  Mama had two lockets, but only one was special.
     

-----------Key-----------

1. plural
2. plural
3. singular
4. plural
5. singular
6. singular
7. plural
8. singular
9. The dogs (P) were dozing in their usual places (P) by the fire (S) when the knock (S) came.
10. They jumped at the cabin door (S), sniffing and whining.
11. I opened the door a few inches (P) and peered into the darkness (S).
12. A man stood in the shadows (P), back a ways from the cabin (S). 
13. suppers
14. hoaxes
15. bags
16. stews
17. dogs
18. benches
19. homes
20. lockets
21. wishes
22. fires
23. comforts
24. dishes
25. boxes
26. farms
27. glasses
28. animals
29. c
30. c