What you learned
A noun changes to show how many. Most of the time you add an ending. Now and then the word itself changes.
| Rule | When to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| add s | most nouns | dog becomes dogs |
| add es | after s, ss, x, ch, sh | box becomes boxes |
| change the word | a few everyday nouns | foot becomes feet |
| change nothing | sheep, deer, fish | one fish, three fish |
Three things to keep straight
| What people write | What is right |
|---|---|
| two boxs | two boxes. The x needs an e in front of the s. |
| two foots | two feet. The word changes instead. |
| two cat’s | two cats. More than one never takes an apostrophe. |
The listening test
Say the word with an s on the end. Did your mouth get stuck? Then it needs es. Did it come out easily? Then s is enough.
Your ear is good at this. Trust it.
Quick warm-up before the check
Write the word that means more than one.
- “one brush”
- “one child”
- “one puddle”
- “one sheep”
Answers
- “brushes”
- “children”
- “puddles”
- “sheep”
Now take the final check below.
Where to go next
- Possessive Nouns: where the apostrophe actually belongs
- Verbs That Tell About Now: matching the verb to one or more than one
- Describing Words That Tell How Many: the clue words themselves
- Special Names and Titles for People: nouns that name one particular person