Noun-Adjective Number Agreement: Singular and Plural Rules
Quick Answer: Nouns ending in a vowel add -s (libro→libros). Nouns ending in a consonant add -es (ciudad→ciudades). Nouns ending in -z change to -ces (luz→luces).
Forming plurals and keeping everything in sync
Category: Gender & Agreement
The Rule
Nouns ending in a vowel add -s (libro→libros). Nouns ending in a consonant add -es (ciudad→ciudades). Nouns ending in -z change to -ces (luz→luces). All adjectives, articles, and demonstratives must match the noun's number.
Why This Matters
English simply adds '-s' for most plurals, but Spanish has a few extra rules. The most important principle: EVERYTHING that modifies the noun must agree. If the noun is feminine plural, the article, adjective, and demonstrative must all be feminine plural too.
Examples
• las casas blancas y bonitas — "the beautiful white houses" [Article + noun + both adjectives: all feminine plural] • los lápices rojos — "the red pencils" [lápiz → lápices (-z → -ces)] • las canciones populares — "the popular songs" [canción → canciones (consonant + -es)] • unos países grandes y diversos — "some large and diverse countries" [país → países; all modifiers agree]
Common Mistakes
❌ las luzes ✅ las luces → Nouns ending in -z change the z to c before adding -es: luz → luces, pez → peces, voz → voces. ❌ los café ✅ los cafés → Nouns ending in a stressed vowel add -s: café → cafés, papá → papás, sofá → sofás.
Quick Tip
Some nouns don't change in the plural: el/los lunes, el/los paraguas, el/los análisis, la/las crisis. The article changes, but the noun stays the same. These are typically words already ending in unstressed -s or -is.
Some nouns don't change in the plural: el/los lunes, el/los paraguas, el/los análisis, la/las crisis. The article changes, but the noun stays the same. These are typically words already ending in unstressed -s or -is.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: las luzes → Correct: las luces. Nouns ending in -z change the z to c before adding -es: luz → luces, pez → peces, voz → voces.
Incorrect: los café → Correct: los cafés. Nouns ending in a stressed vowel add -s: café → cafés, papá → papás, sofá → sofás.
Quiz
What is the plural of 'el pez rojo'?