The plural ending for the suffix -a is:
A.-ac
B.-ses
C.-i
D.-mata
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C.-i.
In English, the plural of words ending in the suffix -a typically follows the pattern of changing the ending -a to -i. This rule generally applies to words borrowed from Latin or Greek that retain their original pluralization pattern. These words often pertain to fields like biology, medicine, or academia.
For example, the word data comes from Latin, where the singular form datum becomes plural as data, and similarly, the word bacterium becomes bacteria. These forms remain consistent in their usage in English, keeping the -i ending for the plural. Another example is fungus, which pluralizes as fungi.
The use of -i as a plural ending comes from Latin and Greek traditions of word formation. In Latin, for instance, many words that end in -a in their singular form, particularly those of Greek origin, change to -i in their plural form. This is especially common for words that refer to living organisms, such as formula (which becomes formulas or formulae, though the -i form is more common in technical contexts) or cactus (which pluralizes as cacti).
In contrast, the other options given are incorrect in the context of words with a singular -a ending. -ac is typically used in adjectives, -ses is the plural for words ending in -x (like matrix to matrices), and -mata is used for words with a different Latin origin, like antenna (plural antennae).
Understanding these patterns allows for more precise usage of plural forms, especially when dealing with scientific or academic terminology.