QQ.7 Form and use irregular plural nouns
What are irregular plural nouns?
Irregular plural nouns are nouns that do not form their plural by simply adding -s or -es. These nouns change in a different way when there is more than one.
- one child → two children
- one foot → two feet
- one mouse → two mice
Irregular plural nouns do not follow the usual plural rules, so they must be learned and practiced.
Irregular plurals that change the word
Some irregular plural nouns change their spelling completely when they become plural.
- man → men
- woman → women
- tooth → teeth
- goose → geese
These words may look very different in their plural form, so it is important to recognize them in reading and writing.
Irregular plurals that stay the same
Some irregular plural nouns look the same in both singular and plural forms.
- one deer → two deer
- one sheep → three sheep
- one fish → many fish
Use clues in the sentence, such as numbers or describing words, to tell whether the noun is singular or plural.
Using irregular plural nouns in sentences
When writing sentences, be sure the irregular plural noun matches the number and works correctly with the verb.
- The children are playing at recess.
- My feet are tired after the walk.
- We saw three deer in the field.
Read your sentence carefully. If the noun means more than one, check that you used the correct irregular plural form.