catastrophes
The plural of "catastrophe" is catastrophes.
Most English nouns form the plural by adding -s, and catastrophe follows this rule.
Meaning: a sudden event that causes great damage (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Use a plural verb with catastrophes: the catastrophes are. The possessive plural adds only an apostrophe: catastrophes'.
How do you pronounce it?
catastrophe is pronounced /kəˈtæstɹəfi/. The plural ending sounds like /z/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use an apostrophe to make a plural. catastrophes means more than one, while an apostrophe shows that something belongs to someone.
Did you know?
- The -s plural goes back to the Old English ending -as, which belonged to only one group of nouns, as in stānas, "stones". By the end of the Middle Ages it had spread to almost every noun.
Examples in context
- The region has suffered several catastrophes.Singular: The region has suffered one catastrophe.
- Natural catastrophes are hard to predict.Singular: A natural catastrophe is hard to predict.
