Formation of plurals | Class 3 grammar

Most nouns form their plurals by adding –s or –es to the singular. Study the examples given below.

  • Book (singular) -> books (plural)
  • Flower -> flowers
  • Table -> tables
  • Father -> fathers
  • Student – students
  • Box -> boxes
  • Fox – foxes
  • Boss -> bosses

When the singular noun ends in –f or –fe, we form the plural by adding –ves after removing the final –f or –fe.

Study the examples given below.

  • Leaf -> leaves (We removed the –f and then added –ves to form the plural)
  • Knife -> knives (We removed the –fe and then added –ves to form the plural.)

More examples are given below.

  • Shelf -> shelves
  • Elf -> elves
  • Wife -> wives
  • Life -> lives
  • Half –> halves
  • Loaf -> loaves
  • Calf -> calves

There are some exceptions to this rule. We can form the plural form of some singular nouns ending in –f, -ffe or –ff by simply adding –s. Examples are:

  • Giraffe – giraffes
  • Roof – roofs
  • Chief -> chiefs

Some nouns form their plurals in both ways. Examples are:

  • Hoof -> hooves / hoofs
  • Dwarf -> dwarves / dwarfs

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

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