11+ English · Topic explained
Plurals
One mouse, two… mouses?
The big idea
Most nouns add -s to make a plural, but some follow other rules, and a few change completely.
Picture it
Most plurals take the main road and just add s; some take a side road.
Key words
- singular and plural
- Singular: one. Plural: more than one.
- -es
- Add -es after s, x, z, ch and sh: you can hear an extra syllable.
- irregular plural
- A plural that doesn't follow the rules: mice, children, teeth, sheep.
Worked examples
- 1Warm-up
cat → cats book → books
- Most nouns just add s.
- 211+ standard
box → boxes church → churches wish → wishes
- After s, x, z, ch or sh, add es.
- You can hear the extra syllable: box-es.
- 311+ standard
baby → babies but day → days monkey → monkeys
- A consonant then y: change y to i, add es.
- A vowel then y: just add s.
- 411+ standard
leaf → leaves knife → knives but roof → roofs chief → chiefs
- Many words ending in f or fe change to ves.
- Some don't: learn roofs, chiefs and chefs.
The common mistake
The mistake
Every word ending in y becomes -ies: "monkies", "dayes".
Instead
Only a consonant then y changes: babies, but monkeys and days.
Why: If a vowel comes before the y, just add s.
Where it comes up in the 11+
SPaG spelling and proofreading questions test tricky plurals like babies, monkeys and knives.
The video
Video coming soon
We're making a short video that explains plurals step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.
Free printable
Plurals worksheet
Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.
Download the worksheet (PDF)Free account needed: it takes a minute.
Quick quiz
Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.
1. What is the plural of "fox"?
- foxs
- foxes
- foxies
Show the answerHide the answer
foxes
After x, add es.
2. What is the plural of "city"?
- citys
- cities
- cityes
Show the answerHide the answer
cities
A consonant (t) then y: change to ies.
3. What is the plural of "wolf"?
- wolfs
- wolves
- wolfes
Show the answerHide the answer
wolves
Like leaf → leaves, the f changes to ves.