Mastering the Plural of ‘City’: Rules, Examples & Common Errors

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Plural nouns form the backbone of clear and correct English communication. While many English plurals simply add an -s, some, like city, follow slightly irregular patterns that can puzzle learners. Since city is a common word used in everyday language, business, academia, and travel, understanding how to pluralize it correctly is crucial for anyone aiming to write or speak accurate English.

This article is designed for ESL students, native speakers refining their grammar, teachers preparing lessons, and writers who want grammatical precision. We will break down the rules, provide extensive examples and tables, highlight typical mistakes, offer practice exercises with answers, and even explore advanced insights. By the end, you will confidently master the plural of city and similar nouns.

Table of Contents

1. DEFINITION SECTION: What is the Plural of ‘City’?

1.1. What is a Noun?

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, idea, or quality. Nouns are fundamental building blocks in sentences.

Nouns can be classified as:

  • Common nouns: general names (e.g., city, teacher, animal)
  • Proper nouns: specific names (e.g., New York, Sarah)
  • Countable nouns: things you can count (e.g., city, car, book)
  • Uncountable nouns: things you cannot count individually (e.g., water, information)

City is a countable common noun, meaning it refers to a thing we can count and is not a specific, proper name.

1.2. Singular vs. Plural Nouns

A singular noun refers to one item: city (one location).

A plural noun refers to more than one: cities (multiple locations).

1.3. The Plural Form of ‘City’

The plural of city is cities.

Pronunciation:

  • city: /ˈsɪti/
  • cities: /ˈsɪtiz/

1.4. Grammatical Classification

City is a countable concrete noun because it names a tangible place you can visit or see.

It can serve as the subject (“The city is large.”) or object (“I visited the city.”) in a sentence.

1.5. Usage Contexts

Use city when referring to a single location. Use cities when talking about multiple locations, comparing places, or listing them.

This distinction is important in:

  • Descriptive writing: “The city skyline is stunning.”
  • Travel and geography: “Many cities are on the coast.”
  • Business: “Global cities attract investment.”

Examples:

  • “London is a famous city.”
  • “There are many beautiful cities in Europe.”
  • “This city never sleeps.”
  • “Some cities have excellent public transport.”
  • “The city hosts an annual festival.”
  • “Several cities competed to host the Olympics.”
  • “Each city has its own charm.”

2. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN: How to Form the Plural of ‘City’

2.1. General Rule for Regular Plurals

Most English nouns form the plural by simply adding -s.

Examples:

  • dog → dogs
  • book → books
  • car → cars

2.2. Nouns Ending with -y: The Spelling Rule

For nouns ending with -y, the rule depends on the letter before the ‘y’:

  • If a consonant + y: change -y to -ies.
  • If a vowel + y: simply add -s.

2.3. Applying the Rule to ‘City’

The word city ends with consonant + y (‘t’ + ‘y’). So, we change -y to -ies, forming:

city → cities

2.4. Step-by-Step Process

  1. Identify the ending: ‘t’ + ‘y’
  2. Drop the ‘y’
  3. Add ‘ies’
  4. Result: cities

2.5. Additional Examples of Similar Pattern

  • country → countries
  • lady → ladies
  • party → parties
  • baby → babies
  • family → families
  • puppy → puppies
  • city → cities
  • penny → pennies
  • story → stories
  • army → armies

2.6. Contrast with Vowel + y Nouns

  • key → keys
  • toy → toys
  • boy → boys
  • day → days
  • journey → journeys
  • valley → valleys
  • monkey → monkeys
  • alley → alleys
  • donkey → donkeys
  • turkey → turkeys
Table 1: Pluralization of Nouns Ending with -y
Consonant + y (change -y to -ies) Vowel + y (add -s)
city → cities boy → boys
country → countries toy → toys
lady → ladies key → keys
party → parties day → days
baby → babies journey → journeys
family → families valley → valleys
puppy → puppies monkey → monkeys
story → stories alley → alleys
penny → pennies donkey → donkeys
army → armies turkey → turkeys

2.7. Pronunciation Notes

When pluralized, the ending -ies is pronounced as /iz/.

  • city: /ˈsɪti/
  • cities: /ˈsɪtiz/

This extra syllable is important for clear speech.

3. TYPES OR CATEGORIES OF PLURALS INVOLVING ‘CITY’

3.1. Regular Plurals of Similar Words

Nouns ending with consonant + y follow the -y → -ies rule, like:

  • library → libraries
  • colony → colonies
  • company → companies
  • enemy → enemies
  • gallery → galleries

3.2. Irregular Plural Nouns (for Contrast)

Some plurals are irregular and do not follow the above rules:

  • child → children
  • foot → feet
  • mouse → mice
  • man → men
  • woman → women
  • tooth → teeth
  • goose → geese

City is not fully irregular; it follows a predictable consonant + y pattern.

3.3. Compound Nouns Involving ‘City’

When city is part of a compound noun, pluralize the main noun:

  • city-state → city-states
  • city center → city centers
  • sister city → sister cities
  • city hall → city halls
  • city council → city councils
  • city guide → city guides

3.4. Proper Nouns and Plurals

Sometimes, proper nouns with city are pluralized, often in fixed phrases:

  • Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul)
  • The Seven Cities of Gold
  • Five Boroughs and Two Cities
  • The Lost Cities of the Maya
Table 2: Compound Nouns with ‘City’ and Their Plural Forms
Singular Compound Noun Plural Form
city-state city-states
city center city centers
sister city sister cities
city hall city halls
city council city councils
city guide city guides
city mayor city mayors
city map city maps
city limit city limits
city ordinance city ordinances

4. EXAMPLES SECTION: Extensive Use Cases

4.1. Basic Singular and Plural Sentences

  • “This city is beautiful.”
  • “These cities are beautiful.”
  • “The city has a long history.”
  • “Many cities have ancient monuments.”
  • “A city offers many job opportunities.”
  • “Large cities attract tourists.”

4.2. Examples by Tense

  • Past: “Many cities grew rapidly in the 20th century.”
  • Present: “Cities compete for investment.”
  • Future: “New cities will emerge in developing countries.”

4.3. Examples with Quantifiers

  • “Five cities were shortlisted for the event.”
  • “Several cities have banned plastic bags.”
  • “Most cities struggle with pollution.”
  • “Few cities have efficient bike lanes.”
  • “All cities face infrastructure challenges.”

4.4. Examples with Adjectives and Articles

  • “A historic city attracts many visitors.”
  • “Historic cities are protected by law.”
  • “The city has many parks.”
  • “The cities have diverse cultures.”
  • “An ancient city was discovered.”
  • “Modern cities rely heavily on technology.”

4.5. Complex Sentences Using ‘Cities’

  • “Cities that invest in green spaces improve residents’ well-being.”
  • “Unlike rural areas, cities tend to be more diverse.”
  • “Many cities around the world are facing housing shortages.”
  • “As cities expand, transportation becomes more challenging.”
  • “Smart cities integrate technology to enhance urban life.”

4.6. Idiomatic Expressions or Fixed Phrases

  • “Sister cities foster international cooperation.”
  • “Global cities like London and Tokyo influence world economics.”
  • “Many governments aim to develop smart cities.”
  • “The Twin Cities are known for their vibrant arts scene.”
  • “The Seven Cities of Gold inspired explorers.”

4.7. Tabulated Examples

Table 3: Singular and Plural Sentence Pairs
Singular Plural
This city is crowded. These cities are crowded.
The city has a river. The cities have rivers.
A city needs good transport. Cities need good transport.
That city was founded in 1700. Those cities were founded centuries ago.
The city is famous for its food. The cities are famous for their food.
My favorite city is Paris. My favorite cities are Paris and Rome.
Each city has an airport. All cities have airports.
This city hosts a marathon. Many cities host marathons.
The city offers many attractions. The cities offer many attractions.
A city can be noisy. Cities can be noisy.
Is this your city? Are these your cities?
The city faces challenges. The cities face challenges.
A city should be clean. Cities should be clean.
This city is a capital. These cities are capitals.
The city grows quickly. Some cities grow quickly.
His city is far away. Their cities are far away.
The city has a museum. The cities have museums.
One city was hit by a storm. Several cities were hit by storms.
Our city is safe. Our cities are safe.
This city attracts tourists. These cities attract tourists.
Table 4: Sentences Using Plural with Quantifiers and Adjectives
Sentence
Many ancient cities were built near rivers.
Several large cities compete for tech startups.
Most European cities have historic centers.
Few coastal cities escape the effects of climate change.
All major cities face housing shortages.
Some fast-growing cities are in Asia.
Many modern cities rely on public transportation.
All smart cities use data analytics.
Various cities host international festivals.
Many polluted cities are improving air quality.
Several ancient cities were rediscovered by archaeologists.
Most big cities have diverse populations.
Few cities offer free public Wi-Fi.
All historic cities attract tourists.
Some cities experience extreme weather.
Several cities have adopted bike-sharing programs.
Many global cities influence fashion trends.
All coastal cities prepare for hurricanes.
Most developing cities face rapid urbanization.
Few cities have zero carbon footprints.

5. USAGE RULES: Correct Use of ‘Cities’ in Context

5.1. Plural Agreement with Verbs

Use a plural verb with cities:

  • “Cities have unique cultures.” (correct)
  • Not “Cities has unique cultures.” (incorrect)

5.2. Article Usage

  • Singular: “A city is often crowded.”
  • Plural: “The cities you mentioned are famous.”
  • Plural without article: “Cities grow rapidly.”

5.3. Quantifiers and Numbers

  • “Many cities struggle with pollution.”
  • “Few cities have efficient transport.”
  • “Several cities hosted the event.”
  • “Ten cities were shortlisted.”

5.4. Possessive Forms

  • Singular possessive: “city’s skyline” (one city)
  • Plural possessive: “cities’ skylines” (multiple cities)

5.5. Contextual Appropriateness

Use city when talking about one place; use cities for groups, comparisons, or generalizations.

  • “The city is large.” (one city)
  • “All cities have unique histories.” (many cities)

5.6. Exceptions and Variations

Proper names like Kansas City do not pluralize unless referring to multiple distinct cities with that name.

When city is part of a proper noun, it remains unchanged: “I visited Mexico City.”

5.7. Summary Table

Table 5: Quick Reference for ‘City’ Pluralization
Form Example Notes
Singular The city is busy. One place
Plural The cities are busy. Multiple places
Singular possessive The city’s mayor One city’s mayor
Plural possessive The cities’ mayors Mayors of several cities
Compound noun plural Sister cities Multiple paired cities
Proper noun Kansas City City name, not pluralized
Proper noun plural Twin Cities Two cities as a collective name

6. COMMON MISTAKES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

6.1. Incorrect Plurals

  • citys ✗
  • cityes ✗
  • Correct: cities ✓

6.2. Misusing Vowel + y Rule

  • partys ✗ → parties ✓
  • boys ✓ (correct, because vowel + y just adds -s)

6.3. Singular/Plural Agreement Errors

  • “Cities has many parks.” ✗
  • “Cities have many parks.” ✓

6.4. Confusing Proper Nouns and Common Nouns

  • “I visited several New York Cities.” ✗ (unless talking about multiple cities named New York)
  • “I visited New York City and Los Angeles.” ✓

6.5. Incorrect Possessives

  • cities’s ✗
  • cities’ ✓ (plural possessive)

6.6. Sample Error-Correction Table

Table 6: Common Errors and Corrections
Incorrect Sentence Corrected Version
The citys are crowded. The cities are crowded.
Many city have museums. Many cities have museums.
Several citys offer free Wi-Fi. Several cities offer free Wi-Fi.
The citys skyline is impressive. The city’s skyline is impressive.
The cities’s transportation systems are advanced. The cities’ transportation systems are advanced.
Few citys invest in green energy. Few cities invest in green energy.
All city face challenges. All cities face challenges.
Some city has airports. Some cities have airports.
The New York Cities are famous. New York City is famous.
These city is beautiful. These cities are beautiful.

7. PRACTICE EXERCISES (WITH ANSWERS)

7.1. Fill-in-the-Blank

Table 7: Fill-in-the-Blank
Sentence Answer
There are many _____ (city) in Europe. cities
Each _____ (city) has its own charm. city
Five _____ (city) were shortlisted. cities
This _____ (city) is famous for its art. city
Most _____ (city) have good transport. cities
That _____ (city) was founded in 1800. city
Several _____ (city) are coastal. cities
The _____ (city) skyline is beautiful. city’s
Many _____ (city) offer free Wi-Fi. cities
Few _____ (city) have low pollution. cities

7.2. Correct the Mistake

  1. The citys are crowded. → The cities are crowded.
  2. Many city have problems with traffic. → Many cities have problems with traffic.
  3. Five citys were shortlisted. → Five cities were shortlisted.
  4. Some city has museums. → Some cities have museums.
  5. The cities’s parks are beautiful. → The cities’ parks are beautiful.

7.3. Identify Singular or Plural

  • “Cities around the world are growing.” → Plural
  • “This city is famous.” → Singular
  • “Many cities have museums.” → Plural
  • “The city has a river.” → Singular
  • “These cities host marathons.” → Plural

7.4. Sentence Construction

  • “Three large cities host the tournament.”
  • “Several coastal cities face flooding risks.”
  • “Many historic cities attract tourists.”
  • “All major cities have airports.”
  • “Few small cities have subway systems.”

7.5. Advanced Mixed Practice

Paragraph with errors:

“Many city around the world is growing quickly. Five citys have applied for the project.

The citys’s leaders are meeting next week. Some city has faced challenges, but most citys are improving.”

Corrected paragraph:

“Many cities around the world are growing quickly. Five cities have applied for the project. The cities’ leaders are meeting next week. Some cities have faced challenges, but most cities are improving.”

7.6. Exercise Tables

Table 8: Practice and Answers
Task Answer
Write the plural of ‘city’. cities
Is ‘citys’ correct? No
Plural possessive of ‘city’. cities’
Singular possessive of ‘city’. city’s
Correct: “All city are beautiful.” All cities are beautiful.
Correct: “Many city has airports.” Many cities have airports.
Use ‘cities’ in a sentence with ‘few’. Few cities have clean air.
Use ‘city’ in a sentence with ‘a’. A city can be noisy.
Plural of ‘puppy’. puppies
Plural of ‘toy’. toys

8. ADVANCED TOPICS

8.1. ‘City’ in Metaphorical and Abstract Usage

“The city never sleeps.” here, city symbolizes urban life or a bustling atmosphere, not just a location.

In literature, city can be a metaphor for civilization, modernity, or society.

8.2. Plurals in Compound Proper Nouns

The phrase Twin Cities collectively refers to Minneapolis and St. Paul. Such fixed plurals use the plural form even though they denote a single collective entity.

8.3. Historical Evolution of the Word ‘City’ and Its Plural

City comes from Latin civitas, meaning citizenship or the city-state. In Middle English, it became citee, then modernized to city. The pluralization pattern with consonant + y → -ies developed over centuries.

8.4. Regional Variations and Dialects

Standard pluralization is consistent across English dialects, but historical forms or dialect poetry might use alternative or archaic forms.

8.5. Pluralization in Formal vs. Informal Registers

In formal contexts, always use cities.

In informal speech, errors like citys might appear but should be avoided in writing.

8.6. Cross-Linguistic Influence

Native speakers of languages without this plural rule (like Mandarin or Turkish) may write citys or forget the plural marker.

Languages like Spanish (ciudad → ciudades) have similar patterns, which can both help and confuse learners.

9. FAQ SECTION

1. What is the plural of ‘city’?
City → cities.

2. Why is the plural ‘cities’ and not ‘citys’?
Because city ends with consonant + y, so the rule is to replace -y with -ies.

3. When do I change ‘-y’ to ‘-ies’ in plurals?
When a noun ends with a consonant + y (e.g., city, party), change -y to -ies.

4. Is ‘citys’ ever correct?
No, citys is incorrect in standard English pluralization.

5. How do I form the possessive of ‘cities’?
Plural possessive is cities’, as in “the cities’ skylines.”

6. Are there exceptions to the ‘-y’ pluralization rule?
Yes, when the ‘y’ follows a vowel (e.g., toy → toys), just add -s.

7. Do all nouns ending in ‘-y’ change to ‘-ies’?
No. Only those ending with consonant + y do. For vowel + y, add -s.

8. Can city names be pluralized?
Usually no, unless referring to multiple cities with that name or in fixed phrases like “Twin Cities.”

9. What’s the difference between ‘cities’ and ‘city’s’?
Cities is plural; city’s is singular possessive.

10. How do I pronounce ‘cities’?
/ˈsɪtiz/ with an extra syllable compared to /ˈsɪti/.

11. Is ‘cities’ used differently in British and American English?
No, the pluralization rule is the same in both varieties.

12. What are some common mistakes with pluralizing ‘city’?
Writing citys, incorrect verb agreement (e.g., “cities has”), or misusing possessives.

10. CONCLUSION

To pluralize city, remember the simple but vital rule: change the -y to -ies → cities.

This pattern applies to many nouns ending with consonant + y, and knowing it will help you avoid common mistakes like citys.

We’ve explored plural rules, provided dozens of examples, highlighted errors, and offered practice. Review the tables, do the exercises, and apply these rules in your writing and speech.

Mastering pluralization not only improves your grammar but also your clarity and professionalism. Keep learning about related grammar patterns to further enhance your English skills!

Continue to practice and reinforce your knowledge to ensure you use the plural form cities correctly and confidently in all your future communication!

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