Level A1

Plural Spelling Rules

Many things: the naming word takes -s (cats, boxes) or changes (feet). With many, the action word has no -s: The birds sing.

I have two cats.

Two is more than one, so: cats. I have two cats.

Forms

• one cat → two cats — many: add -s
• box → boxes · city → cities · foot → feet — -es after s, x, ch, sh; consonant + y → ies; some words change
• The bird sings. · The birds sing. — many birds = they: the action word has no -s

A common mistake

Wrong: I have two cat.

Right: I have two cats.

Two is many, so the naming word takes -s: I have two cats.

More examples

There are three boxes on the table.

Three boxes: -es after x.

My feet are cold.

Foot becomes feet.