Learn on PengiElements of Language, 3rd CourseChapter 16: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

Lesson 2: Plurals of Nouns

In this Grade 6 spelling lesson from Elements of Language, 3rd Course, students practice the ie and ei spelling rules, learning when to write ie for the long e sound and ei when the sound is not long e, especially the long a sound. Students also study how prefixes and suffixes are added to base words, including the rule that the original word's spelling stays the same when a prefix is added and that a silent final e is dropped before a vowel suffix. Practice exercises guide students in applying these rules to correctly spell words such as freight, ceiling, achieve, and receive.

Section 1

Regular Noun Plurals

Definition

Most nouns can be made plural simply by adding –s to the end of the word. Some nouns are made plural by adding –es to the end of the word.

Explanation

For most nouns, just add an -s. Easy! However, if a word ends in sounds like s, x, ch, or sh, you'll likely need to add -es. A helpful tip is to listen for an extra syllable in the plural form; if you hear one (like church vs. church-es), it's probably spelled with -es.

Examples

  • I always wash the dish __ after dinner. dishes
  • How many box __ do you think we’ll need for the move? boxes
  • The flower __ in the garden are beautiful. flowers

Section 2

Irregular and Special Plurals

Definition

Many nouns that end in –y form the plural by changing the y to i before adding –es. The plurals of some nouns are formed in different ways. A few nouns do not change at all to form the plural.

Explanation

Some plurals break the rules! For nouns ending in a consonant + 'y', change the 'y' to 'i' and add -es (e.g., puppy -> puppies). Then there are irregular plurals that change completely (e.g., child -> children) or don't change at all (e.g., deer -> deer). You often have to memorize these.

Examples

  • Plural of a noun ending in -y: The y in cry changes to i and –es is added to form the plural cries.
  • Irregular plural (vowel change): Do any letters in woman change to form the plural women?
  • Irregular plural (no change): The plural form of spacecraft does not change from spacecraft.

Section 3

Plurals of Numerals, Letters, and Symbols

Definition

To form the plural of numerals, letters, symbols, and words used as words, add an apostrophe and an s.

Explanation

This is a special rule to prevent confusion! When you need to make a number, a letter, a symbol, or even a word being discussed as a word plural, you use an apostrophe and an s. This makes it clear you're talking about the characters themselves, not making a typo.

Examples

  • How many however's did I use in my report?
  • My little sister has a hard time writing 5's.
  • Please replace all the &'s with the word 'and'.

Book overview

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Chapter 16: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Spelling Rules

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Plurals of Nouns

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Words Often Confused A

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    Lesson 4: Words Often Confused B

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    Lesson 5: Words Often Confused C

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Section 1

Regular Noun Plurals

Definition

Most nouns can be made plural simply by adding –s to the end of the word. Some nouns are made plural by adding –es to the end of the word.

Explanation

For most nouns, just add an -s. Easy! However, if a word ends in sounds like s, x, ch, or sh, you'll likely need to add -es. A helpful tip is to listen for an extra syllable in the plural form; if you hear one (like church vs. church-es), it's probably spelled with -es.

Examples

  • I always wash the dish __ after dinner. dishes
  • How many box __ do you think we’ll need for the move? boxes
  • The flower __ in the garden are beautiful. flowers

Section 2

Irregular and Special Plurals

Definition

Many nouns that end in –y form the plural by changing the y to i before adding –es. The plurals of some nouns are formed in different ways. A few nouns do not change at all to form the plural.

Explanation

Some plurals break the rules! For nouns ending in a consonant + 'y', change the 'y' to 'i' and add -es (e.g., puppy -> puppies). Then there are irregular plurals that change completely (e.g., child -> children) or don't change at all (e.g., deer -> deer). You often have to memorize these.

Examples

  • Plural of a noun ending in -y: The y in cry changes to i and –es is added to form the plural cries.
  • Irregular plural (vowel change): Do any letters in woman change to form the plural women?
  • Irregular plural (no change): The plural form of spacecraft does not change from spacecraft.

Section 3

Plurals of Numerals, Letters, and Symbols

Definition

To form the plural of numerals, letters, symbols, and words used as words, add an apostrophe and an s.

Explanation

This is a special rule to prevent confusion! When you need to make a number, a letter, a symbol, or even a word being discussed as a word plural, you use an apostrophe and an s. This makes it clear you're talking about the characters themselves, not making a typo.

Examples

  • How many however's did I use in my report?
  • My little sister has a hard time writing 5's.
  • Please replace all the &'s with the word 'and'.

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 16: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Spelling Rules

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Plurals of Nouns

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Words Often Confused A

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Words Often Confused B

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Words Often Confused C

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