CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1b
The Standard
Form and use regular and irregular plural nouns.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students change singular nouns to show more than one. They use endings such as s, es, and ies, and learn forms such as children, mice, and feet.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student correctly writes plurals such as cats, boxes, babies, children, and feet. The student uses these forms accurately in complete sentences.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may add s to every noun, producing forms such as childs or mouses. They may write apostrophes in plurals or change every final y to ies, including words like toy.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Write the plural forms of cat, box, baby, child, and mouse. Then use one plural in a complete sentence.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs noun cards to sort into singular and plural groups, then have students explain each spelling change.
Ask students to write three sentences about a strange zoo, using two expected plural forms and two unusual plural forms.
Play Plural Relay by showing singular noun cards and having teams write the correct plural on mini whiteboards.
Use a grocery flyer to list items a family might buy in groups, such as tomatoes, loaves, and berries.
Free download
Printable L.3.1b Worksheet

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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Where This Standard Sits
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