The most common way to form plurals in English is by adding – s to the end of the singular noun. This rule applies to most nouns in the language. For example, we turn cat into cats and book into books. However, there are certain conditions where we need to add – es instead or change the word entirely.

The most basic rule is to pluralize a noun by adding the suffix -s (as in voters); however, if the noun ends in -s, -x, -z, -sh, or -ch (with the exception—see, we already have an exception—of words ending in -ch pronounced with a hard k, like monarchs and stomachs), the suffix -es is added in order to create an extra syllable to pronounce the plural—as in goddesses, anticlimaxes, blitzes, flashes, and torches.

A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. For example, flower is singular, but flowers is plural. Regular nouns become plural by adding “–s” or “–es” to the singular noun, while irregular plural nouns have unique spellings and do not follow the standard pattern.

An apostrophe followed by an “s” is used in English to create possessive nouns. For example, the noun dog becomes dog’s when you refer to something belonging to the dog, such as “the dog’s ball.” With plural nouns ending in “s,” you add the apostrophe after “s” and do not add an additional “s.”