294 Consonant + y
294 Consonant + y
When a word ends in a consonant + y, the y changes to ie before s.
study studies lorry lorries
Before most other endings, the y changes to i.
study studied silly sillier lucky luckily
happy happiness
We do not change y after a vowel.
day days buy buyer stay stayed
NOTE
a The possessive forms are singular noun + apostrophe + s, and plural noun + apostrophe.
the lady's name the ladies' names
b A one-syllable word usually keeps y before ly: shyly, slyly, dryly/drily.
c We do not change y when it is part of a person's name: Mr and Mrs Grundy the
Grundys.
d We do not change y in by: stand-bys, lay-bys.
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2 We keep y before i.
copy copying hurry hurrying
NOTE
We change ie to y before ing.
die dying lie lying
But pay, lay and say have irregular ed-forms: paid
Also day daily.
, laid , said
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38
Irregular noun plurals
295 Summary
Most countable nouns have a regular plural in s or es.
hands dates buses.

Some nouns have the same form in the singular and plural.
Singular: One aircraft was shot down.
Plural: Two aircraft were shot down.
These nouns are aircraft, hovercraft, spacecraft etc; some animals, e.g. sheep, deer,
some kinds offish, e.g. cod, salmon; and some nouns ending in s, e.g. headquarters,
means. • 154(3)
NOTE
a Some measurements (e.g. pound, foot) can be singular after a plural number, e.g. two
pound/ pounds fifty.
b For six hundred and twenty, • 191(1) Note c.
analysis analyses crisis crises hypothesis hypotheses
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298 Irregular plural endings
3 Some nouns have a regular written plural in ths, but the pronunciation of th
changes.
path
paths
Also: mouths, youths (= young people)
NOTE
Some other nouns in th are regular: months, births, deaths
. Some have alternative forms,
e.g. truths
or
4 The plural of house is houses
298 Irregular plural endings
1 en
child
children ox oxen
2 a
3 i

300 List of irregular verbs