Adding -s or -es to nouns ending in -o

[albertino]

With words like "buffalo, mosquito, potato, mango, echo, hero, tomato" adding -es, while "piano, halo, radio, dynamo, bamboo, banjo" adding "-s" to form plurals, is there any east way to know, rather than rote-learning, whether"-es" or "-s" should be used in such kind of word?

 

[Mad-ox]

:hi:

Here are some rules:

1) Nouns ending in -o get either -s or -es when turned in the plural. The suffix -s will be added to:

a) those nouns whose final -o is precedeed by a vowel:
eg. bamboo-bamboos
cuckoo-cuckoos
embryo-embryos
kangoroo-kangoroos
radio-radios
studio-studios
scenario-scenarios
cameo-cameos, etc.

b) some nouns ending in -o, of foreign origin:
eg. casino-casinos
tango-tangos
canto-cantos
magneto-magnetos
alto-altos
dynamo-dynamos
rondo-rondos

c) abbreviations:
eg. kilos
photos
pianos

d) proper names:
eg Eskimo-Eskimos
Hindoo-Hindoos
Romeo-Romeos

2) When the final -o is preceded by a consonant, the suffix -es will be added:
eg. domino-domonoes
echo-echoes
embargo-embagoes
hero-heroes
mosquito-mosquitoes



Madox

 

[BobK]

:hi:

Here are some rules:

1) Nouns ending in -o get either -s or -es when turned in the plural. The suffix -s will be added to:

a) those nouns whose final -o is preceded by a vowel:
eg. bamboo-bamboos
cuckoo-cuckoos
embryo-embryos
kangoroo-kangoroos
radio-radios
studio-studios
scenario-scenarios
cameo-cameos, etc.

b) some nouns ending in -o, of foreign origin:
eg. casino-casinos
tango-tangos
canto-cantos
magneto-magnetos
alto-altos
dynamo-dynamos
rondo-rondos

c) abbreviations:
eg. kilos
photos
pianos

d) proper names:
eg Eskimo-Eskimos
Hindoo-Hindoos A rather dated spelling. Since Indian independence the common English spelling is "Hindu".
Romeo-Romeos

2) When the final -o is preceded by a consonant, the suffix -es will be added:
eg. domino-dominoes
echo-echoes
embargo-embargoes
hero-heroes
mosquito-mosquitoes



Madox

Thanks. I've made a few editorial additions.

(As usual with rules, there are inconsistencies: in what sense is "mosquito" not 'of foreign origin' (1b)? Ah, that rule only says 'some'. So 'some' in 1b means 'some other rule may apply instead, at the whim of the language'; or, in other words, rote learning is the only sure way of getting these right. Native speakers have trouble with these too.)

b

 

[albertino]

:hi:

Here are some rules:

1) Nouns ending in -o get either -s or -es when turned in the plural. The suffix -s will be added to:

a) those nouns whose final -o is precedeed by a vowel:
eg. bamboo-bamboos
cuckoo-cuckoos
embryo-embryos
kangoroo-kangoroos
radio-radios
studio-studios
scenario-scenarios
cameo-cameos, etc.

b) some nouns ending in -o, of foreign origin:
eg. casino-casinos
tango-tangos
canto-cantos
magneto-magnetos
alto-altos
dynamo-dynamos
rondo-rondos

c) abbreviations:
eg. kilos
photos
pianos

d) proper names:
eg Eskimo-Eskimos
Hindoo-Hindoos
Romeo-Romeos

2) When the final -o is preceded by a consonant, the suffix -es will be added:
eg. domino-domonoes
echo-echoes
embargo-embagoes
hero-heroes
mosquito-mosquitoes



Madox

Thank you very much for your valuable advice, Madox.:up: Allow me to ask one more interesting question: What is the full name of "pinao"?

Thank you to Bobk as well. However, Bobk, could you tell me what the expression "at the whim of the language" means in plain English? Thanks again.

 

[mykwyner]

" Native speakers have trouble with these too."

Bob K nailed it. Be comforted that native speakers have just as much (if not more) trouble with these words than new learners.

 

[albertino]

My two cents:
Canto-one of the parts into which a very long poem is divided;
Magneto-a piece of equipment containing one or more magnets that is used for producing electricity, especially in the engine of a car;
Alto-an alto instrument or voice produces notes at the second highest level, below a soprano;
Dynamo-a machine that changes some other form of power directly into electricity;
Rondo- a piece of music in which the main tune is repeated several times.

Source: Longman Dict.

(Not a teacher)

 

[Mad-ox]

Thank you very much for your valuable advice, Madox.:up: Allow me to ask one more interesting question: What is the full name of "pinao"?

hi,

piano - pianoforte,

Madox

 

[albertino]

hi,

piano - pianoforte,

Madox

I see. Thanks.

 

[BobK]

...

Thank you to Bobk as well. However, Bobk, could you tell me what the expression "at the whim of the language" means in plain English? Thanks again.

You're welcome.

People have "whims" (random interests), so "language" can't really have them - it was figurative ("personification"); perhaps I shouldn't have used it . What I meant was that books and Professors and dictionaries aren't in charge.

b

 

[weiming]

I have to applaud the Herculean efforts of Mad-ox but at the same time admit...as a native speaker this question has never crossed my mind. But seriously, learn by rote only the ones you commonly write, and check the dictionary on the rest, it's not that terrible. Any teacher actually giving tests on this is sure to be a pedant (there, I said it).

Not to split hairs but..."whim" is more of a random decision or sudden desire or change of mind than "interest".

Hence: to do something because of sudden desire or change of mind and not because of sudden interest.

 

[Teia]

If you are unsure of how to make a noun plural, you can look up the singular form of the noun on Merriam-Webster Online to get the plural form. It`s a very good dictionary, in my opinion.

 

[mykwyner]

Remember, dictionaries, as a rule, only list irregular plurals. If there is no plural spelling listed in the dictionary, just add s.

Also, it is important to remember that speaking, reading and spelling are three completely different skills that use different parts of the brain. These skills must be developed both separately and together in the same way that an athlete trains individual muscles and his whole body.

 

[Teia]

Remember, dictionaries, as a rule, only list irregular plurals. If there is no plural spelling listed in the dictionary, just add s.

Also, it is important to remember that speaking, reading and spelling are three completely different skills that use different parts of the brain. These skills must be developed both separately and together in the same way that an athlete trains individual muscles and his whole body.

Thank you.
You are right. I was referring only to the formation of the plurals of nouns when I recommended the dictionary.