Words That End in -o and -y Can Be Plural Too!

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!

categories

Grammar, Phonics

subject
English / Language Arts
learning style
Auditory, Visual
personality style
Beaver
Grade Level
Intermediate (3-5)
Lesson Type
Quick Query

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio: Image - Button Play
Image - Lession Started Image - Button Start
  • What would the world be like if only one boy were in it?
  • What if there were only one bakery?
  • What if there were only one zoo?

Luckily, our world has more than one bakery or zoo. However, that means we must learn to make those words plural!

bakery

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.

  • Singular means there is one item.
  • Plural means there is more than one item.
  • Nouns (people, places, things) can be singular or plural.

You must also identify vowels and consonants in words to follow these plural rules. Refresh your memory with this quick quiz!

Image - Video

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.

Image - Video

When you are ready, keep going with the Got It? section.

Image - Button Next