Page 27 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Language Arts

25
PL URALS

Irregular plural nouns Staying singular
Some words just don’t follow the rules. Collective nouns such as flock or crowd
Although many nouns that end in -o • If the plural form of a noun is used have plural forms, but usually appear
are made plural by adding an s, others in a sentence, the verb that follows in the singular. Some nouns do not
take the ending -es. Some nouns it must also be plural. have a plural form at all, even though
change their spelling completely when • Do not confuse plural words with they usually represent multiple things.
they become plural, while others do the possessive. For example, “There Furniture, for example, is a singular
not change at all. Words that originate are two Jasons [plural] in my class, word, but it may encompass a table,
from Latin and Greek often have and this is Jason’s car [possessive].” a chair, a sofa, and a cabinet.
irregular plural endings. These
exceptions have to be learned.

Words ending Words ending in -z
in -f usually usually take the
change their regular -es ending.
endings to -ves.

Words ending
in -o usually take
the -s ending.

Words of Latin or Some words
Greek origin often change their
have irregular spelling
plural forms. completely.

GLO S S A RY
Collective noun The name given to
a collection of individuals—people
or things.
Plural noun When more than one
Some words person or thing is being described.
don’t change
at all. Suffix An ending made up of one or
Some nouns more letters that is added to a word to
have two change its form—for example, from
plural forms. singular to plural.