Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To talk about more than one thing in English, we usually add -s, -es, or -ies to the end of the noun.
- Add -s to most words: One book → two books.
- Add -es to words ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh: One bus → two buses.
- Change -y to -ies if a consonant comes before it: One baby → two babies.
Overview
shoe 吗？感觉有点孤单，对吧？在英语里，单个的东西通常没问题，但多了才更好。不管是 followers（粉丝），burgers（汉堡），还是 vacations（假期），你都得知道怎么把一个变成多个。这就是复数形式的魔法。大多数时候，你只要在后面扔个 s 就完事了。但英语就喜欢搞点花样。有时你需要加 es，还有时得把 y 踢开，邀请 ies 来参加派对。掌握这个能让你听起来像个大神，不管是在群聊里发信息还是给教授写正式邮件。这就是说自己有一个 friend（悲伤）和有很多 friends（超赞）的区别。别担心，一旦你看出了规律，规则其实挺有逻辑的。这基本上就像个连连看游戏。而且，一旦你掌握了这个，你就离征服这门语言近了一半了！名词为什么去看医生？因为它有太多的 appendices（阑尾/附录，这是个双关梗）。好吧，那是这种不规则的，但我们今天只讲简单的！How This Grammar Works
-s。比如，你的 phone 变成 phones。简单吧？然而，有些词的尾音如果只加 s 会很难读。试着快速读一下 bus-s。听起来像你一直在让人闭嘴（嘘——）。所以我们在以 s, x, z, ch, 或 sh 结尾的词后面加 -es。这增加了一个额外的音节，让这个词更容易听清。然后是 y 的情况。如果一个词以辅音加 y 结尾，像 city，这个 y 有点不合群。它离开了，-ies 取代了它的位置。如果 y 前面有元音，像 boy，y 就会留在原地，只加一个 s。把这想象成 y 被它的元音朋友保护着。这是一个非常社交的语法点！如果一个名词感到单身（singular），它可能只是在寻找它的复数灵魂伴侣。
Formation Pattern
-s。
book → books
student → students
laptop → laptops
s, x, z, ch, 或 sh 结尾的名词：在词尾加 -es。这会产生一个额外的 iz 音。
bus → buses
box → boxes
match → matches
dish → dishes
buzz → buzzes
y 结尾的名词：把 y 变成 i 并加 -es（形成 -ies）。
party → parties
fly → flies
story → stories
y 结尾的名词：只需加 -s。y 留下！
day → days
key → keys
play → plays
cats | 猫
buses | 公交车
babies | 婴儿
toys | 玩具
When To Use It
fry，你想要 fries。当你在查通知时，你在看来自 friends 的 messages。如果你是游戏玩家，你在收集 points 或 items。在大学里，你要应付 classes, assignments, 和 exams。这对社交媒体也至关重要。你在数你的 likes, comments, 和 shares。即使你在旅行，你也在找 hotels 或 beaches。如果你只用单数名词，人们可能会以为你每样东西只有一个！想象一下，当你其实有五个兄弟姐妹时却说 I have one sibling。那得错过多少生日礼物啊。我们使用复数是为了具体和准确。它帮助人们准确地想象你在说什么。无论你是在描述地板上的一堆 clothes 还是天空中的 stars，复数都是你最好的朋友。只要记住，通常是多多益善，除了提到 taxes（税）的时候。
Common Mistakes
- The Y Trap（Y 的陷阱）: 很多人把每个
y都改成ies。记住：boy变成boys，不是boies。只有当y前面是辅音（如t,r,l）时才改变它。 - Missing the -es（漏掉 -es）: 忘记
buses或boxes等词里的e。写成bus's是表示所有格，而buss是……好吧，不是标准的复数。 - The Apostrophe Error（撇号错误）: 这是一个超级大错误！永远不要用撇号 ( ' ) 来表示复数。
Apple's意思是属于苹果的东西。Apples意思是多于一个苹果。 - Pronunciation（发音）: 有时人们会忘记发
-es的额外音节。Buses应该听起来像bus-iz，而不是一个长长的s音。 - Over-pluralizing（过度复数化）: 英语中有些词不加
s（像information或water），但现在，只关注那些需要加的！ - ✗
I have two toyies.→ ✓I have two toys.(元音 + y 规则) - ✗
She has three boxs.→ ✓She has three boxes.(以 x 结尾规则) - ✗
Look at the puppy's!→ ✓Look at the puppies!(复数不用撇号！)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
-s 和英语里其他 s 结尾搞混很容易。首先是 Possessive 's（所有格）。这表示所有权。如果你说 my friend's house，意思是这房子属于一个朋友。如果你说 my friends，意思是你有很多朋友。其次是动词的 Third Person Singular（第三人称单数）。当我们说 he plays 时，我们是在动词后加 s，而不是名词。看起来一样，但作用不同。名词用 s 表示数量；动词用 s 来匹配主语。还有 Irregular Plurals（不规则复数）。像 man 变成 men 或 child 变成 children 这样的词。它们完全不遵循我们的 -s/-es/-ies 规则。它们是英语语言的叛逆者。最后，对比一下 Uncountable Nouns（不可数名词）。你可以有两瓶 bottles，但你只有 water。你（通常）不说 waters。先理解规则能给你打下坚实的基础，这样以后你就能更容易地认出那些叛逆者！这就像在开赛车前先学交规。Quick FAQ
所有的以 y 结尾的词都变 ies 吗？
不！只有当 y 前面是辅音时。如果是元音 (a, e, i, o, u)，直接加 s。
为什么我们要加 -es 而不是只加 -s？
这完全是为了发音！sh 或 ch 后面紧跟着快速读一个 s 很难。e 给了我们一点喘息的空间。
如果单词很奇怪，我可以用撇号表示复数吗？
不行。永远不行。撇号是用于所有格或缩写（像 it's），不是用来变复数的。
是 stories 还是 storys？
是 stories，因为 r 是辅音。如果你在写博客，确保你把 stories 写对了！
有没有任何完全不变的词？
有，像 sheep 或 fish，但那些是不规则的。对于 A1 级别，先专注于 -s, -es, 和 -ies 模式！
以 o 结尾的词呢？
问得好！有的加 s (photos)，有的加 es (tomatoes)。我们会在另一课单独讲，但对于现代科技词汇来说，-s 通常是个安全的选择！
我怎么知道该不该用 -ies？
看 y 前面的字母。如果是辅音，把它换掉！如果是元音，保留 y。
我需要大写复数吗？
只有当单数名词本身是大写的时候，比如 Saturdays 或 Americans。
Regular Plural Formation Rules
| Ending Type | Rule | Singular Example | Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Most Nouns
|
Add -s
|
Car
|
Cars
|
|
Ends in -s, -ss
|
Add -es
|
Bus / Glass
|
Buses / Glasses
|
|
Ends in -sh, -ch
|
Add -es
|
Brush / Watch
|
Brushes / Watches
|
|
Ends in -x, -z
|
Add -es
|
Box / Quiz
|
Boxes / Quizzes
|
|
Consonant + y
|
Change y to -ies
|
City
|
Cities
|
|
Vowel + y
|
Add -s
|
Toy
|
Toys
|
Meanings
Plural nouns are used to indicate that there is more than one of a person, place, thing, or idea.
Standard Plural
The most common way to show plurality by adding a simple -s suffix.
“The cars are fast.”
“She has five pens.”
The 'Hissing' Plural
Adding -es to words that end in sounds that are hard to follow with a simple 's'.
“The boxes are heavy.”
“I watched three matches.”
The 'Y' Transformation
Replacing 'y' with 'ies' when the 'y' follows a consonant.
“The babies are sleeping.”
“There are many flies in the kitchen.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard
|
Noun + s
|
The dogs bark.
|
|
Sibilant (-es)
|
Noun(s/x/ch/sh) + es
|
The boxes are open.
|
|
Consonant + Y
|
Noun(-y) + ies
|
The babies cry.
|
|
Vowel + Y
|
Noun(ay/ey/oy) + s
|
The keys are lost.
|
|
Negative (Verb Agreement)
|
Plural Noun + do not
|
The cats do not like water.
|
|
Question (Verb Agreement)
|
Do + Plural Noun
|
Do the buses run late?
|
正式程度
Would it be possible to have two bags, please? (At a store)
Can I have two bags? (At a store)
Two bags, please. (At a store)
Gimme two bags. (At a store)
Plural Suffix Selection
Default
- Book -> Books Standard
Hissing Sounds
- Bus -> Buses Add -es
The Y Rule
- Fly -> Flies Consonant + Y
The 'Y' Ending Decision
How to make it plural?
Does it end in s, x, ch, or sh?
Does it end in Consonant + Y?
按水平分级的例句
I have two cats.
I have two cats.
The buses are red.
The buses are red.
Three babies are here.
Three babies are here.
I like apples.
I like apples.
She needs four boxes for the books.
She needs four boxes for the books.
There are many parties this weekend.
There are many parties this weekend.
He buys two newspapers every day.
He buys two newspapers every day.
The cities in this country are beautiful.
The cities in this country are beautiful.
The company manages several properties in London.
The company manages several properties in London.
We need to wash all the dishes after dinner.
We need to wash all the dishes after dinner.
The scientists discovered new species of flies.
The scientists discovered new species of flies.
How many countries have you visited?
How many countries have you visited?
The witnesses provided conflicting stories about the accident.
The witnesses provided conflicting stories about the accident.
Our agency handles various duties for the government.
Our agency handles various duties for the government.
The sandwiches were prepared with fresh ingredients.
The sandwiches were prepared with fresh ingredients.
Many industries are moving toward automation.
Many industries are moving toward automation.
The complexities of the tax system are overwhelming.
The complexities of the tax system are overwhelming.
The archives contain documents from the 18th century.
The archives contain documents from the 18th century.
Social hierarchies often dictate interpersonal interactions.
Social hierarchies often dictate interpersonal interactions.
The sketches revealed the artist's initial vision.
The sketches revealed the artist's initial vision.
The idiosyncrasies of the local dialect are fascinating.
The idiosyncrasies of the local dialect are fascinating.
The discrepancies in the financial reports were alarming.
The discrepancies in the financial reports were alarming.
The marshes provide a unique habitat for migratory birds.
The marshes provide a unique habitat for migratory birds.
The fallacies in his argument were quickly exposed.
The fallacies in his argument were quickly exposed.
容易混淆
Both often end in 's', leading to confusion in writing.
Learners try to change every 'y' to 'ies'.
Learners try to pluralize words that don't have a plural form.
常见错误
two citys
two cities
three bus
three buses
the cats is
the cats are
five boyes
five boys
many dishs
many dishes
the boxs
the boxes
two flys
two flies
the story's are good
the stories are good
the complexitiys
the complexities
句型
I have two ___.
There are many ___ in the room.
The ___ are very beautiful.
Do you like ___?
Real World Usage
Sending the pics now! 📸
Can I get two orders of fries?
I have many years of experience in different industries.
Where are the buses for the airport?
Check out my latest stories!
Are these dresses on sale?
The Hissing Test
The 'Y' Trap
Verb Agreement
Money Talk
Smart Tips
Check the neighbor! If the neighbor is a consonant, 'y' becomes 'ies'. If it's a vowel, 'y' stays.
Make sure you add an extra 'iz' sound at the end. Don't rush it!
Never use an apostrophe (') unless you are talking about ownership.
Always look ahead. If the noun is plural, you MUST use 'there are'.
发音
The /s/ sound
Used after voiceless sounds like p, t, k, f.
The /z/ sound
Used after voiced sounds like b, d, g, v, and all vowels.
The /ɪz/ sound
Used after s, x, z, ch, sh. This adds an extra syllable.
Plural List Rising
I need apples ↗, oranges ↗, and bananas ↘.
Shows you are listing multiple items.
记住它
记忆技巧
S, X, CH, SH need an ES to be the best! If it's a Y after a B, C, or D, change it to IES for me!
视觉联想
Imagine a snake (S) and a box (X) sitting on a bench (CH) in the bush (SH). They all need an 'Extra Snack' (ES) because they are so loud!
Rhyme
When a word ends in Y, and a consonant is nearby, change the Y to an I, and add ES to the sky!
Story
A little 'y' was lonely at a party. A consonant friend came over, and the 'y' got so excited it turned into an 'i' and invited 'es' to join them. But when a vowel friend came over, the 'y' stayed the same and just invited 's' to stand next to them.
Word Web
挑战
Look around your room. Find 5 different objects. Say the name of the object, then say how many there would be if you had two of them (e.g., 'One lamp, two lamps').
文化笔记
Using plurals correctly is a sign of basic literacy. In many English-speaking cultures, omitting the plural 's' can make a speaker sound very uneducated or like a non-native beginner.
In some dialects like AAVE, the plural -s is sometimes omitted if a number is already present, as the number already indicates plurality.
In some northern UK dialects, you might hear 'ten pound' instead of 'ten pounds' when talking about money.
The -s plural comes from the Old English masculine nominative plural ending '-as'.
对话开场白
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
What things are in your bag right now?
Which cities do you want to visit?
What are your favorite hobbies?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
I have three ___ (cat).
The ___ are in the kitchen.
Find and fix the mistake:
There are many citys in the world.
The boy has a toy.
Sort these words: Book, Box, Baby, Watch
We change 'y' to 'ies' for the word 'Day'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Do you have any ___ (wish)? B: Yes, I have many!
Score: /8
练习题
8 exercisesI have three ___ (cat).
The ___ are in the kitchen.
Find and fix the mistake:
There are many citys in the world.
The boy has a toy.
Sort these words: Book, Box, Baby, Watch
We change 'y' to 'ies' for the word 'Day'.
1. Party, 2. Glass, 3. Key
A: Do you have any ___ (wish)? B: Yes, I have many!
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesMy cat loves to chase `___`.
I saw two beautiful butterflys in the garden.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Tengo tres relojes.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the singular nouns with their correct plural forms:
My neighbor has two friendly `___`.
Choose the correct sentence:
The babyes are sleeping quietly.
Translate into English: 'Ella tiene muchas ideas.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
I need to buy two `___` of bread.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /13
常见问题 (8)
It's about sound! Words ending in 'hissing' sounds like s, x, ch, and sh need the extra 'e' to make the plural sound clear and easy to say.
Because there is a vowel ('o') before the 'y'. We only change 'y' to 'ies' if there is a consonant before it.
Yes! Some words like `sheep`, `fish`, and `deer` are the same in singular and plural. These are called irregular nouns.
Yes! In words like `buses` or `watches`, the `-es` is pronounced like 'iz', adding a second syllable to the word.
Yes. For proper names, we usually just add 's'. For example, 'The Kennedys' or 'There are two Marys in my class.'
It's `quizzes`. Note that we double the 'z' before adding '-es'!
Yes, but it's irregular. It doesn't follow the -s rule. You will learn those in the next lesson!
No. In English, adjectives never change. We say 'red apple' and 'red apples'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
-s / -es
In Spanish, adjectives must also be pluralized (e.g., 'los gatos negros'), whereas in English, adjectives never change.
-s
In spoken French, the -s is usually silent. You only know it's plural because of the article (le vs les).
Various (-e, -en, -er, -s)
English is much simpler because it mostly uses just one suffix (-s).
None
Japanese uses 'counters' or context instead of changing the noun ending.
Sound plurals and Broken plurals
English regular plurals are much more predictable than Arabic broken plurals.
None / -men (for people)
Chinese uses measure words and numbers but leaves the noun in its singular form.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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