NCO Primary Leadership Subjects
Remembering Spelling Rules, Continued
This table reviews the rules for correctly spelling the plural forms of nouns.
Forming
plurals
Rule
Example
Most nouns form plurals by adding -s to the
chair = chairs
singular form.
book = books
Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, or -x form plurals by
wish = wishes
adding -es.
church = churches
mess = messes
fox = foxes
Nouns ending in -y following a consonant form
enemy = enemies
plurals by changing the -y to an -i and adding -es.
baby = babies
salary = salaries
candy = candies
Nouns ending in -y following a vowel form
monkey = monkeys
plurals by adding -s.
donkey = ey = donkeys
Most nouns ending in -f, -fe, or ff form plurals by
roof= roofs
adding s.
safe = safes
staff= staffs
Some nouns ending in -f or -fe form plurals by
knife = knives
changing the -f to -v and adding -es.
leaf= leaves
Nouns ending in -o following a vowel form
rodeo = rodeos
plurals by adding -s.
radio = radios
Most nouns ending in -o following a consonant
hero = heroes
form plurals by adding -es.
potato = potatoes
Continued on next page
Writing Mechanics and Composition
1-19
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