Forming the plural of nouns: How and When to Use in English

the house → many houses is the correct plural here, simply adding an -s to the singular house as we do for most nouns. Examples: some cases; two bikes; a few dogs.

Putting -z on the end of house might sound right, but there are no English plurals with -z on the end.

We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y, but not house. Example: candy → a bag of candies.

a printer → two printers is the correct plural here, simply adding an -s to the  singular printer as we do for most nouns. Examples: a doctor → many doctors; a dancer → two dancers. 

Putting -z on the end of printer makes a word that doesn't exist. Note: there are no English plurals with -z on the end.

We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y, but not printer. Example: a baddy → Are we the baddies?

a city → some cities is the correct plural, taking off the final -y and replacing it with -ies. This is the pattern for all words that end in a consonant + -y. Example: a little baby → two little babies.

Putting -ez on the end of cit- makes a word that doesn't exist in English. In fact it looks a bit French! Note: there are no English plurals with -ez on the end.

We use the -ys combination in the plural form of words ending in vowel + -y, not city. Example: a donkey → two donkeys.

a book → I like reading books  is the correct plural here, simply adding an -s to the singular book as we do for most nouns. Examples: a cook → many cooks; a single bed → twin beds; a cup → three cups.

We use -es to form the plural of words ending -s, -sh, -ch or -x, not book. Example: a fox →  a family of foxes.

We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y, but not book. Example: a berry → nuts and berries.

a match → a box of matches is the correct plural. We use -es to form the plural of words ending -s, -sh, -ch or -x. Example: a brush → a painter's brushes.

We use -s to form the plural of most nouns, but not match. Example: the waiter arranges the tables and chairs. 

We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y, but not match. Example: an army → two warring armies.

a story → a thousand and one stories is the correct plural. We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y. Example: a party → two parties.

We use -s to form the plural of most nouns, but not story. Examples: five gold rings, three calling birds, two French hens …

We use -es to form the plural of words ending -s, -sh, -ch or -x, but not story. Example: our town has two churches and three football pitches.

a car → many cars is the correct plural here, simply adding an -s to the singular car as we do for most nouns. Example: a road → many roads.

We use -es to form the plural of words ending -s, -sh, -ch or -x, but not car. Examples:  gas → oxygen and hydrogen are gases.

We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y, but not car. Example: a puppy → my dog had seven puppies.

a dish → lots of dishes is the correct plural here. We use -es to form the plural of words ending -s, -sh, -ch or -x. Example: a bush →  bushes.

We use -s to form the plural of most nouns, but not dish. Example: seven brides for seven brothers.

We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y, but not dish. Example: a fairy → Do you believe in fairies?

a lady → two ladies is the correct plural. We use -ies to form the plural of words ending consonant + -y. Example: a country → two countries.

We use -s to form the plural of most nouns, but not lady. Example: he scores goals and wins games.

We use -es to form the plural of words ending -s, -sh, -ch or -x, but not lady. Example: a tax → the government has put up taxes.