English word conjugation rules

Question

I am a programmer whose most recent project involves Natural Language Parsing and I need to be able to conjugate English Verbs and Nouns.

I already have a list of Verb Irregulars but I am struggling to find a set of "rules" if you will, for conjugating regular English verbs. I know there are a few, various rules such as: "if the word ends in 'X', then the plural form would end in 'Y'" with the most basic being add an s to the end.

I am looking for the rules for finding the: Base form, Past simple, Past participle, 3rd person singular, Present participle Gerund

Also, I would be looking to do the same for finding the plurals and possessive forms of any given noun, along with a list of regulars. I have had no source of results or luck in my searching in this area and any help with conjugating (for lack of a better word) nouns would be very helpful

Sorry for what appears to be the lack of searching, trust me I have looked.

Answer 1

English regular verbs have four rule-based forms. Walk, for example, has walk, walks, walking, walked. There are no rules for forming irregular verbs and each has to be learnt separately.

The regular plural of nouns is formed by the addition of -s to the singular, but if the noun ends in -s, -z, -x, -ch or –sh, it adds -es. A few nouns have irregular plurals. Man becomes men, for example, and child becomes children.

There are some exceptions, but the possessive of singular nouns is formed by the addition of -'s. The possessive of plural nouns is formed by the addition of -s'.

Verbs conjugate, but nouns decline.

Answer 2

Of course there are no all-encompassing rules.

But I got these from a grammar book (by Raymond Murphy). Hope they help:

1.If the Noun or Verb ends in -s, -ss, -sh,-ch and –x, put "+es" at the end.

2.Nouns ending in:

A. consonant + y >>>>> ies

B. vowel + y >>>>> ys

3.Verbs ending in:

A. consonant + y >>>>> ies/ ied

B. consonant + y >>>>> ying

C. vowel + y >>>>> ys / yed / ying

D. exceptions: pay, lay, say

4.Verbs ending in:

A. ie >>>>> ying

B. e >>>>> ing/ ed (except irregular)

C. exceptions: be, see, agree

5.Verbs ending in

A. vowel + consonant >>>>> doubled consonant + ing / + ed

B. exception: over-1- syllable Verbs

1. stress on final syllable >>>>> doubled consonant + ing/ +ed

2. no stress on final syllable >>>>> single consonant + ing/ +ed

(except British double “l” and American single “l”)

C. consonant + consonant >>>>> single consonant + ing/ + ed

D. vowel + vowel + consonant >>>>> single consonant + ing/ + ed

E. y / w >>>>> single y/ w +ing/ + ed