ELC Study Zone: IrregularPlurals of Nouns http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/irrplu.

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Home » Level 330 — Lower Intermediate » Grammar
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Irregular Plurals of Nouns

Introduction
Although most nouns have plurals formed according to regular rules (see
Regular Plurals of Nouns), some nouns have unusual, or irregular plurals. This
page will introduce the most common ones, so that you can learn them.

Types of irregular plural

There are many types of irregular plural, but these are the most common:

Noun type Forming the plural Example

Change f to v knife knives

Ends with -fe then life lives
Add -s wife wives

Change f to v half halves

Ends with -f then wolf wolves
Add -es loaf loaves

potato potatoes
Ends with -o Add -es tomato tomatoes
volcano volcanoes

cactus cacti
ends with
Change -us to -i nucleus nuclei
-us
focus foci

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ELC Study Zone: IrregularPlurals of Nouns http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/irrplu.htm

analysis analyses
ends with -is Change -is to -es crisis crises
thesis theses

phenomenon
ends with
Change -on to -a phenomena
-on
criterion criteria

Change the vowel man men

or foot feet
Change the word child children
ALL KINDS
or person people
Add a different tooth teeth
ending mouse mice

sheep
Singular and plural
Unchanging deer
are the same
fish (sometimes)

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the
exercises.

Continue with the exercises

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