Grammar and Language Workbook

Unit 13, Vocabulary and Spelling 283

Copyright © by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

Vocabulary and

Spelling

Lesson 93

Basic Spelling Rules III

Many English words form plurals by specific rules.

If the noun ends in s, ch, sh, x, or z(including proper names), add -es.

grass, grasses catch, catches fox, foxes Lopez, Lopezes

If the noun ends in a consonant + y, change the yto iand add -es.

carry, carries mercy, mercies puppy, puppies

If the noun ends in oor a vowel + y, add -s.

rodeo, rodeos piano, pianos key, keys boy, boys

Exceptions: potato, potatoes echo, echoes

If the noun ends in for ff, add -s.

beef, beefs clef, clefs cuff, cuffs

Exceptions: sheaf, sheaves loaf, loaves (change f to v and add -es)

If the noun ends inlfor fe, change the f to vand add -es.

calf, calves shelf, shelves life, lives

One-word compound nouns follow the general rules for plurals. For compound

nouns of more than one word or hyphenated words, make the most important

word plural.

grandmother, grandmothers lady-in-waiting, ladies-in-waiting

ice cream, ice creams chief of staff, chiefs of staff

Some nouns have irregular plurals and follow no rules.

man, men foot, feet child, children

Some nouns do not change spelling for the plural.

deer, deer sheep, sheep series, series

Exercise 1, Write the correct plural form of each word.

watch watches

1. dress dresses


2. Aldrich Aldriches
   3. factory factories
   4. goof goofs