listbeeEndings and word parts
Plurals with -s and -es
Most plurals just add -s, but the end of the word decides whether you add -s, add -es, or change a letter first.
- Sound
- More than one
- Usually taught
- 1st–3rd grade
- Words on this page
- 36 in 4 lists
Plurals with -s and -es: word lists
Practice a list online (each word is read aloud), or open it in the worksheet maker to print a test, word search, or look-cover-write-check sheet.
Add -s
10 words- cats
- dogs
- books
- trees
- cars
- birds
- apples
- toys
- games
- kites
Add -es
10 words- boxes
- foxes
- buses
- dishes
- wishes
- brushes
- lunches
- peaches
- glasses
- dresses
Change y to i and add -es
8 words- babies
- puppies
- ponies
- cities
- stories
- berries
- ladies
- families
Irregular plurals
8 words- children
- mice
- teeth
- feet
- men
- women
- geese
- leaves
How the pattern works
Add -s to most words: cat → cats, toy → toys.
Add -es after s, x, ch or sh. You can hear the extra syllable: box-es, lunch-es.
If a word ends in a consonant plus y, change the y to i and add -es: baby → babies. If a vowel comes before the y, just add -s: toy → toys.
Irregular plurals change the word itself (mouse → mice, tooth → teeth) and need to be practiced as whole words.
Common mistakes
- Adding only s after x, s, ch or sh: “boxs,” “lunchs.”
- Writing “babys” or “babyes.”
- Regularizing irregular words: “mouses,” “childs,” “tooths.”
Practice ideas
- Say the plural aloud and count the syllables. An extra syllable usually means -es.
- Write the singular above each plural before practicing.
Practicing a list from school?
Paste your child’s exact words to make listening practice and printables in seconds.