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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #111421: Irregular plurals
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Plural [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Plural - Plural forms - Countable or Uncountable? - Plural of words - Verb-singular or plural? - Plural - Plural of nouns - Plural: Nouns ending in -ff, -f, -fe
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Irregular plurals


    Generally speaking, going from the singular form to the plural one is quite simple: simply add an -s to the singular. 
    - a table => tables ; an orange => oranges. 

    There are 
    MANY, VARIED IRREGULAR FORMS OF the PLURAL: 

    Some special endings: 


    A) Words ending with "Y"

    🔹 If the Y is preceded by a vowel ( a, e, i, o, u, y.) the  plural is in - s.
    a day=> days; toy => toys.


    🔹 If the Y is preceded by a consonant: the plural form is in -ies.
     - a spy=> 2 spies( espions) ; a country= 2 countries. 



    B) Words ending with -s, -sh, -ch, and -x  and some words ending with -o. (plural forms in -es.
    - a match => 2 matches;  a flash=> 2 flashes; a mass=> 2 masses; a tomato=> 2 tomatoes. 


    C) Words ending with -f  which have their plurals in  -ves:             

     a calf->calves a self->selves
     a knife->knives a loaf->loaves
     a leaf->leaves a wife->wives
     a life ->lives awolf->wolves    

    Some other words ending with -f have a regular plural: 
    roof => roofs; cliffs ; chiefs. 



    D) The words "deer", "fish" and "sheep" have no "s" in the plural. 
    one sheep => two sheep => a herd of sheep



    E) A few words have a different form of plural, or don't change from singular to plural: 

     a man 2 men a woman 2 women
     a foot 2 feet a tooth 2 teeth
     a child 2 children a mouse 2 mice
     a crisis 2 crises a criterion 2 criteria
     a species 2 species a means 2 means

    Some of these words have Greek or Latin origin:

    - the endings in -on have their plurals in -a:  criterion, phenomenon => criteria, phenomena.

    - the endings in -is have their plurals in -es:  a basis, thesis, hypothesis, analysis => bases, theses, hypotheses, analyses. 

            


    Well well! That's it! You should be ready to face the test!  it's a bit long, but quite easy! Go for it! 



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    English exercise "Irregular plurals" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
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    1. and have disappeared from our gardens. It's getting cold, now...
    2. Autumn is almost finished... The have fallen off the trees and days get shorter and shorter...
    3. Can you give me the two pocket which are on the , please, I need to check a few words.
    4. There were 20 people altogether to study these strange : eight , six and six .
    5. Mom, I've tidied up my room, my are in their , my are brushed, and my are on. Can you now read a story to me, please?
    6. For our Thanksgiving dinner, we had two , with sweet , roasted and , , beans and .

      








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