III. Plurals formed by Adding -s or -es.

III. Plurals formed by Adding -s or -es.

42. Instead of _-s,_ the ending _-es_ is added--

(1) If a word ends in a letter which cannot add _-s_ and be pronounced. Such are _box, cross, ditch, glass, lens, quartz_, etc.

[Sidenote: _-Es added in certain cases_.]

If the word ends in a _sound_ which cannot add _-s_, a new syllable is made; as, _niche--niches, race--races, house--houses, prize--prizes, chaise--chaises_, etc.

_-Es_ is also added to a few words ending in -o, though this sound combines readily with _-s_, and does not make an extra syllable: _cargo--cargoes, negro--negroes, hero--heroes, volcano--volcanoes_, etc.

Usage differs somewhat in other words of this class, some adding _-s_, and some _-es_.

(2) If a word ends in _-y_ preceded by a consonant (the _y_ being then changed to _i_); e.g., _fancies, allies, daisies, fairies_.

[Sidenote: _Words in -ies._]

Formerly, however, these words ended in _-ie_, and the real ending is therefore _-s_. Notice these from Chaucer (fourteenth century):--

[Sidenote: _Their old form._]

The _lilie_ on hir stalke grene. Of _maladie_ the which he hadde endured.

And these from Spenser (sixteenth century):--

Be well aware, quoth then that _ladie_ milde. At last fair Hesperus in highest _skie_ Had spent his lampe.

(3) In the case of some words ending in -_f_ or -_fe_, which have the plural in _-ves_: _calf_--_calves_, _half_--_halves_, _knife_--_knives_, _shelf_--_shelves_, etc.

Special Lists.

43. Material nouns and abstract nouns are always singular. When such words take a plural ending, they lose their identity, and go over to other classes (Secs. 15 and 17).

44. Proper nouns are regularly singular, but may be made plural when we wish to speak of several persons or things bearing the same name; e.g., _the Washingtons_, _the Americas_.

45. Some words are usually singular, though they are plural in form. Examples of these are, _optics_, _economics_, _physics_, _mathematics_, _politics_, and many branches of learning; also _news_, _pains_ (care), _molasses_, _summons_, _means_: as,--

_Politics_, in its widest extent, is both the science and the art of government.--_Century Dictionary_.

So live, that when thy _summons comes_, etc.--BRYANT.

It served simply as _a means_ of sight.--PROF. DANA.

[Sidenote: Means _plural_.]

Two words, means and politics, _may be plural_ in their construction with verbs and adjectives:--

Words, by strongly conveying the passions, by _those means_ which we have already mentioned, fully compensate for their weakness in other respects.--BURKE.

With great dexterity _these means_ were now applied.--MOTLEY.

By _these means_, I say, riches will accumulate.--GOLDSMITH.

[Sidenote: Politics _plural_.]

Cultivating a feeling that _politics_ are tiresome.--G. W. CURTIS.

The _politics_ in which he took the keenest interest _were politics_ scarcely deserving of the name.--MACAULAY.

Now I read all the _politics_ that _come_ out.--GOLDSMITH.