English Grammar Drills

Count nouns
Nouns 5
Most count nouns in English form their plural by adding a sibilant sound written as -s or -es.
Plurals formed this way are called regular plurals. Some nouns form their plural in other ways.
They are called irregular plurals.
The spelling of a regular plural is determined by its pronunciation. If the plural is pronounced
as a single sibilant sound pronounced either as /s/ or /z/, then the plural is spelled -s.
However, if the plural is pronounced as a separate unstressed syllable /әz/ rhyming with “buzz,”
then the plural is spelled -es. Here are some examples of each type:
Spelling of plural
-s (pronounced /s/): hats, cops, tricks, paths
-s (pronounced /z/): rugs, cabs, rings, keys, shoes
-es (pronounced /әz/): wishes, glasses, catches, buzzes
Sometimes the spelling of regular plurals is disguised by the spelling rule that governs the
use of a final silent e. The basic rule is that we add a final silent e to show that the preceding vowel
is long. For example, compare the following words:
Short vowel:
Long vowel:
cap (a is a short vowel /æ/ as in ask)
cape (a is a long vowel /ey/ as in grape)
We make both of these words plural by adding a single sibilant sound:
Singular
cap
cape
Plural
caps /-ps/
capes /-ps
The final silent e in the word cape makes the plural look like the -es is pronounced as a separate
syllable /әz/, but it is not. We have merely added a single sibilant sound, /s/, to the end of the
singular form. Caps and capes have the same plural /s/ sound because although the silent e makes
the a long, it plays no role in the pronunciation of the plural ending. Just pretend that final silent
e is not there when you pronounce the /s/.
The pronunciation of the plural in regular nouns is determined by the final sound of the
singular form of the noun according to the following three rules:
1. If the noun ends in a voiceless consonant sound (except a sibilant), then the plural is
formed with the voiceless sibilant /s/, which is spelled -s. Here are examples of all the consonant
sounds that this rule applies to:
/p/ cap-caps; cop-cops; snap-snaps; shape-shapes; hope-hopes
/t/ hat-hats; boat-boats; beast-beasts; fate-fates; rebate-rebates