Investigate Spelling Rules and Exceptions in Plurals

The most common way to change a singular noun to a plural one is to simply add an s. There are some basic rules for pluralising nouns.

 

Changing y to ies: 

puppy    puppies

lorry      lorries

teddy    teddies           

 

                                

 

Changing fe to ves:

knife    knives

wolf     wolves

leaf      leaves

 

 

However, not all nouns follow the rules. The plural of roof is roofs, not rooves, but the plural of hoof can be either hoofs or hooves. Confusing, isn't it?

 

 

Some nouns ending in o add es in the plural while others just add s:

tomato    tomatoes

radio       radios

 

 

There are words that don't change at all in the plural:

sheep    sheep

fish        fish

 

 

There are also words that change completely in the plural:

person    people

mouse    mice

child       children

 

 

Sometimes we just have to learn the plurals, although a dictionary can be very helpful.

 

Let's move on to the questions now.