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What Is the Plural?
The Rule
When a word ends in CH, SH, Z, S, or X, adding just -S would make it almost impossible to say. Instead, add -ES, which creates an extra syllable to make pronunciation easy.
Exception: when CH sounds like /k/ (stomach, monarch), just add -S.
Song Lyrics
Are you ready? Yes. To learn plural rule number two. Woo!
Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go.
CH SH Z S X
If these letters end a word, then add ES.
CH SH Z S X
If these letters end a word, then add ES.
Just add S is a plural rule that we use every day. Number one.
But we can't add S to every word, 'cause some sounds are hard to say.
So the letters in our song, we put the letter E before the S.
And now we have a plural we can't say without a tone being in distress.
Everybody sing!
CH SH Z S X
If these letters end a word, then add ES.
CH SH Z S X
If these letters end a word, then add ES.
Church is my base word. It ends with the letter CH.
Churches is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
Lunch is my base word. It ends with the letter CH.
Lunches is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
Dish is my base word. It ends with the letter SH.
Dishes is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
Brush is my base word. It ends with the letter SH.
Brushes is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
Dress is my base word. It ends with the letter S.
Dresses is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
Bus is my base word. It ends with the letter S.
Buses is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
Box is my base word. It ends with the letter X.
Boxes is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
Fox is my base word. It ends with the letter X.
Foxes is the plural. It's spelled with an ES.
CH SH Z S X
If these letters end a word, then add ES.
CH SH Z S X
If these letters end a word, then add ES.
Unless the CH sounds like a K, then you just add the letter S.
Okay, Mr. Spelling.
Bye-bye.