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Plural Rule 3

Consonant + Y? Change Y to I and add ‑ES

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What Is the Plural?

Question 1 of 30

👶 baby

The Rule

PLURAL RULE 3
consonant + Y → consonant + IES

When a noun ends in a consonant followed by Y, change the Y to I and add -ES. The Y is replaced — it does not stay in the word.

Exception: if the letter before the Y is a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), just add -S instead — for example, toy → toys, monkey → monkeys, key → keys.

baby → babies pony → ponies city → cities story → stories puppy → puppies berry → berries

Song Lyrics

Are you ready to learn plural rule number three?
Here we go.

Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.
Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.

Does baby end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Babies.

Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.
Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.

Does pony end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Ponies.

Does berry end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Berries.

Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.
Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.

Does puppy end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Puppies.

Does bunny end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Bunnies.

Does story end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Stories.

Does daisy end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Daisies.

Does bully end with a consonant followed by a Y? Yes.
Change the Y to an I. Add ES. Bullies.

Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.
Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y?
If yes, change the Y to an I and add ES.

Does the base word end with a consonant followed by a Y? No.
Well, I guess there are six more plural rules that we should know.

Mr. Spelling. Silly.
Bye-bye.