What are nouns?
Nouns are words that name people, places, animals, or things.
- person → teacher
- place → school
- animal → dog
- thing → book
If you can see it, touch it, or name it, it is often a noun.
What does plural mean?
A plural noun means more than one person, place, animal, or thing.
- one cat → two cats
- one toy → three toys
- one tree → many trees
Many plural nouns are made by adding -s or -es, but not all nouns follow this rule.
What are irregular plural nouns?
Irregular plural nouns are nouns that do not follow the usual rules when they change from one to more than one.
- one child → two children
- one man → two men
- one woman → two women
These nouns change in a special way. You must learn them and remember how they look.
Irregular plurals that change the word
Some irregular plural nouns change their spelling when they become plural.
- foot → feet
- tooth → teeth
- mouse → mice
- goose → geese
Listen carefully when you say these words out loud. The plural often sounds very different from the singular.
Irregular plurals that stay the same
Some irregular plural nouns look the same for one and for more than one.
- one deer → two deer
- one sheep → three sheep
- one fish → many fish
The word does not change, but the sentence tells you if there is one or more than one.
Using irregular plural nouns in sentences
Irregular plural nouns are used the same way as other nouns in sentences.
- The children are playing outside.
- I see two mice in the barn.
- The sheep are eating grass.
Check the verb in the sentence to make sure it matches the plural noun.