General Rule:
* If the letter before the "y" is a consonant, change the "y" to "ies".
* Example:
* baby -> babies
* fly -> flies
* story -> stories
Exceptions:
* If the letter before the "y" is a vowel, simply add an "s".
* Example:
* boy -> boys
* toy -> toys
* monkey -> monkeys
Special Cases:
* Proper Nouns: Follow the general rules, even if the "y" is preceded by a vowel.
* Example:
* Henry -> Henrys
* Mary -> Marys
* Kennedy -> Kennedys
* Words ending in "-quy": These words add an "s" rather than changing the "y".
* Example:
* attorney -> attorneys
* monkey -> monkeys
Important Note:
* The rules above apply primarily to nouns. Verbs and adjectives have their own plural forms.
* Some words ending in "y" are irregular and don't follow the usual rules. You'll need to memorize these. Examples include:
* baby -> babies
* lady -> ladies
* penny -> pennies
* valley -> valleys
Let me know if you have any other questions about plurals!