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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to form and recognize the plural of Spanish nouns. This lesson explains the basic rules for plural endings, including regular forms with -s, nouns ending in consonants adding -es, and irregular cases where -z changes to -c before adding -es. It also covers unchanged plural forms and the role of articles in identifying singular and plural nouns.
  1. The article tells us whether the noun is singular or plural.
Singular (Singular) Plural (Plural)
-a, -e, -i, -o, -uEl cuello (The neck)+ "s" -> Los cuellos (The necks)
Vocal acentuadaEl pie (The foot)+ "s" -> Los pies (The foots)
ConsonanteEl corazón (The heart)+ "es" -> Los corazones (The hearts)
-zLa nariz (The nose) "c" + "es" -> Las narices (The narices)
-sEl iris (The iris)/ -> Los iris

Exceptions!

  1. Nouns ending in "-z" are irregular and change to "-c" in the plural: La nariz / Las narices
  2. Some nouns lose the accent in the plural. Example: El pulmón / Los pulmones
  3. Some nouns are the same in singular and plural. Example: El iris / Los iris

Exercise 1: El plural de los sustantivos

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

cuellos, brazos, narices, cuerpos, ojos, bocas, cabezas, orejas

1. La oreja :
Las ...
(The ears)
2. El brazo :
Los ...
(The arms)
3. La boca :
Las ...
(The mouths)
4. El cuerpo :
Los ...
(The bodies)
5. El cuello :
Los ...
(The necks)
6. La nariz :
Las ...
(The noses)
7. La cabeza :
Las ...
(The heads)
8. El ojo :
Los ...
(The eyes)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Los ______ laten rápido cuando haces ejercicio.

(The ______ beat fast when you exercise.)

2. Las ______ pueden oler diferentes aromas.

(The ______ can smell different aromas.)

3. Los ______ están cansados después de caminar mucho.

(The ______ are tired after walking a lot.)

4. Las ______ son necesarias en la sala de espera.

(The ______ are necessary in the waiting room.)

5. Los ______ ayudan a respirar.

(The ______ help you breathe.)

6. Los ______ protegen los ojos y no cambian en plural.

(The ______ protect the eyes and do not change in plural.)

Understanding Singular and Plural Nouns in Spanish

In this lesson, we explore how to recognize and form the plural of Spanish nouns, a fundamental part of building your language skills at the A1 beginner level. Spanish nouns change their endings depending on whether they are singular or plural, and the accompanying articles also reflect this change.

Basic Plural Formation

Most nouns simply add "-s" to form the plural when they end in a vowel, for example: el cuello becomes los cuellos. Similarly, nouns ending with an accented vowel also add "-s": el pie becomes los pies.

Nouns Ending in Consonants

Nouns that end with a consonant usually add "-es" to create the plural. For instance, el corazón becomes los corazones.

Irregular Plurals with -z Ending

Some nouns ending in -z change the z to c before adding "-es". For example, la nariz changes to las narices. This is an important irregular pattern to remember.

Unchanged Plurals

There are nouns that remain the same in singular and plural form, such as el iris and los iris. These nouns do not change their spelling, but the article indicates the number.

Additional Highlights

  • The article (el, la, los, las) plays a crucial role in signaling singular or plural nouns.
  • Some nouns lose their accent in the plural, e.g., el pulmón becomes los pulmones.

Notes on English-Spanish Differences

Unlike English, which typically forms plurals by simply adding -s or -es, Spanish pluralization involves modifications based on the ending letter of the noun, including irregular changes such as -z to -ces. Articles in Spanish also change according to number and gender, which is a feature absent in English. For example, "the nose" translates as la nariz (singular) and "the noses" as las narices (plural). This lesson helps students grasp these variations and the appropriate use of articles.

Useful Phrases:

  • ¿Cuántos libros hay? — How many books are there?
  • Las sillas están aquí. — The chairs are here.
  • Los pulmones son importantes. — The lungs are important.

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