Grammar · Nouns
Plural Nouns (Regular, Irregular & Foreign)
One ant, two ants, millions of ants. Learn how to talk about more than one with the film Antz.
Grammar › Nouns › Plural Nouns (Regular, Irregular & Foreign)
The rule in one sentenceFor more than one, most nouns just add -s — ant → ants — but a few common words change — man → men — and you learn those one by one.
About the film
Antz is an animated film from 1998. Z is a small worker ant in a huge colony of millions of ants, and he digs tunnels all day. He wants to be more than one of the workers, and his life changes when he meets Princess Bala.
What does it do?
When there is one thing, we use the word as it is: one ant. When there are two or more, we usually add -s: two ants, three tunnels.
A few very common words do not add -s. They change in their own way: one man → two men, one child → two children. There are not many, so you can learn them.
Look at the tiles. “Ants”, “tunnels” and “workers” just add -s. “Leaves” and “children” change the word. They do not follow the easy rule.
Z has a friend called Weaver. Weaver is one of the soldiers. The soldiers are big, strong men.
“Soldier” takes -s. “Man” changes to “men”. Both words mean more than one.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
Add -s — most words
Z works with thousands of ants.
ant → antsThere aren’t many princesses in the colony.
princess → princesses (add -es)How many tunnels does Z dig?
After “how many”, use the plural.The word changes — a few words
Many people love this film.
person → peopleAnts don’t have big feet.
foot → feetDo children like Antz?
child → children (no -s)When to use each one
Add -s — the normal way
The word changes — learn these
Words that help: one or more?
These words come before a plural. When you see one, use the “more than one” form.
Common mistakes
❌ Z is one of millions of ant.
✅ Z is one of millions of ants.
Millions is more than one, so add -s.
❌ There are many colonys in the park.
✅ There are many colonies in the park.
A consonant before -y? Change y to ies.
❌ A lot of childs like this film.
✅ A lot of children like this film.
The plural of child is children.
❌ The mans in the army are big and strong.
✅ The men in the army are big and strong.
The plural of man is men.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Some words come from Latin or Greek, and keep their old plural. Ant words are a good example.
✅ An ant has two antennae. (one antenna, two antennae)
✅ Baby ants are called larvae. (one larva, many larvae)
You will also see cactus → cacti and criterion → criteria. For TV and radio, many people now say antennas. For insects, people still say antennae.
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. The colony has millions of ___.
More than one → ants.
2. Z digs a lot of ___.
“A lot of” → tunnels.
3. Many ___ watched Antz in 1998.
The plural of person is people.
4. The soldiers are strong ___.
man → men.
5. Ants live in many ___ around the world.
A consonant before -y? Change y to ies → colonies.
6. Ants carry ___ back to the colony.
leaf → leaves.
7. A lot of ___ love this film.
child → children.
8. An ant has two ___ on its head.
antenna → antennae (an old Latin plural).
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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