Contributor: Jennifer Blanchard. Lesson ID: 13787
Usually, you can add an -s to the end of a word to make it plural (or show more than one). Do you still do that when the word ends in -o or -y? Come along to see!
Luckily, our world has more than one bakery or zoo. However, that means we must learn to make those words plural!
Because we live in a world with plurals, we need to know how to show that in our writing.
We show plurals through changes in our spelling. Some words, like those that end in -o and -y, follow special rules.
Before getting into those rules, you should remember the following.
You must also identify vowels and consonants in words to follow these plural rules. Refresh your memory with this quick quiz!
Now, examine how to change a word from singular to plural if it ends in -o.
When there is a vowel before the last -o, add an -s.
Add -es when there is a consonant before the last -o.
Here are some examples.
Singular | Plural | |
zoo | zoos | |
potato | potatoes | |
radio | radios | |
hero | heroes | |
echo | echoes |
There are some exceptions to this rule, however, such as the following.
Singular | Plural | |
piano | pianos | |
zero | zeros | |
avocado | avocados | |
photo | photos |
Next, see how to change a word from singular to plural if the word ends in -y.
For nouns that end in a consonant and then -y, change the -y to -ies.
For nouns that end in a vowel and then -y, keep the -y and add an -s after.
Here are some examples.
Singular | Plural | |
enemy | enemies | |
library | libraries | |
monkey | monkeys | |
joy | joys | |
supply | supplies |
You just learned a lot of different rules! If you want to review them, watch the videos below.
When you are ready, keep going with the Got It? section.