Most English nouns are count nouns. They refer to objects which are thought of as separate and distinct entities, and they have both singular and plural forms. Generally speaking, their plurals are formed in a regular and predictable way. Usually, plurals are formed by adding -s to the singular, or unmarked form of the noun. Nouns that end in -s, -z, -ch, -sh, and -x are made plural by adding an -es.
e.g. inch : inches
box : boxes
dish : dishes
Irregular Plural Formation
The plurals of some count nouns are formed in irregular ways. Here are the rules for forming irregular plurals: (Foreign nouns refer to nouns adopted from Latin or Greek.)
Some nouns that end in -o: take -es
e.g. tomato : tomatoes
Nouns that end in a consonant + -y: change the -y to -i and add -es
e.g. butterfly : butterflies
Nouns that end in -f or -fe: change the -f to -v and add -es
e.g. calf : calves
Nouns that change the vowel but add no ending
e.g. tooth : teeth, mouse : mice
Nouns that show no difference between singular and plural
e.g. deer : deer, fish : fish
Foreign nouns that end in -us: change to -i
e.g. alumnus : alumni, focus : foci
Foreign nouns that end in -a: change to -ae
e.g. formula : formulae, vertebra : vertebrae
Foreign nouns that end in -um: change to -a
e.g. curriculum : curricula, stratum : strata
Foreign nouns that end in -ex or -ix: change to -ices
e.g. index : indices, appendix : appendices
Foreign nouns that end in -is: change to -es
e.g. neurosis : neuroses, thesis : theses
Foreign nouns that end in -on: change to -a
e.g. phenomenon : phenomena, criterion : criteria