SINGULAR AND PLURAL

PLURALISATION OF NOUNS
There are many exceptions and rules for making nouns plural.
Usually, we make a noun plural by adding an -s: cars, earrings, wardrobes.
After sibilant sounds, we add -es: boxes, roses, sandwiches.
If a noun ends in consonant + -y, we add -ies after the final consonant: copies,
ladies, skies.
If it ends in vowel + -y, we simply add an -s: toys, ways, boys. *pennies, pence.
Nouns that end in -f or -f need an -s to make them plural: proofs, handcufs,
clifs.
However, others that end in -f plus the ones that end in -fe substitute these
endings with -ves: knives, shelves, wives. *scarfs, scarves; hoofs, hooves.
Nouns that end in -o form the plural by adding -s or -es: discos, pianos,
potatoes, heroes. *buffalos, buffaloes; mosquitos, mosquitoes; tornados,
tornadoes.
Some nouns have irregular plural forms: a man, two men; a goose, two geese;
an ox, two oxen.
Others have the same form the singular has: a fish, two fish; a sheep, two
sheep; TV series, means, headquarters.
Some nouns end with an -s but are usually singular: measles, ethics, politics,
gymnastics, darts, cards.
There are some nouns which have no singular form: scissors, trousers, cattle.
Singular nouns are preceded by the singular demonstratives this and that
whereas plural nouns are preceded by the plural demonstratives these and
those.