33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie]

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The English language is funny. It has all of these rules and then for each rule, it has its exceptions aka irregulars. In the English language when a noun becomes plural you simply add an -s or -es, however, there are irregular plurals that do not follow that simple rule.

Some of the most common English nouns have an irregular plural form. For example, the plural form of fireman is firemen not firemans or child is children not childs.

Sadly there are many irregular plural nouns in the English language and you simply just have to memorize them. But luckily there are some common patterns that irregular plurals follow.

The Most Common Irregular Plurals

Example: Nouns ending in -f or -fe

In order to make a word ending in -f, or -fe plural simply change the f to a v and add -es. So the end should be -ves.

For example, the plural form of wife would-be wives. See the chart below for more examples

Singular (-f, -fe)	Plural (-ves)
knife	knives
life	lives
wife	wives
calf	calves
leaf	leaves

Nouns That Change Their Vowels

In addition, there are some English words that change their vowels when the noun becomes plural.

For example, oo becomes ee or an becomes en.

Singular	Plural (vowel change)
foot	feet
tooth	teeth
goose	geese
man	men
woman	women

Irregular Nouns That Change Spelling

Furthermore, there are some irregular plurals that change their spelling.

For example, the plural form of child is children. See the chart below for more examples.

https://twitter.com/bbcle/status/918100099519180801

Singular	Plural
mouse	mice
die	dice
ox	oxen
child	children
person	people

Irregular Nouns That Stay the Same when Plural

There are a few irregular plurals in the English language that stay the same when they are singular or plural.

For example, one fish or two fish. There are 10 fish swimming in the aquarium.

Singular/ Plural (no change)

sheep

fish

deer

moose

buffalo

33 Irregular Plural Nouns List

Here is a list of the 33 most common irregular plurals.

	Singular	Plural
1	fish	fish
2	fireman	firemen
3	half	halves
4	die	dice
5	wife	wives
6	calf	calves
7	foot	feet
8	wolf	wolves
9	octopus	octopuses
10	goose	geese
11	thief	thieves
12	elf	elves
13	deer	deer
14	woman	women
15	policeman	policemen
16	cactus	cacti
17	scarf	scarves
18	knife	knives
19	child	children
20	shelf	shelves
21	loaf	loaves
22	man	men
23	moose	moose
24	person	people
25	sheep	sheep
26	hoof	hooves
27	leaf	leaves
28	tooth	teeth
29	mouse	mice
30	ox	oxen
31	fungus	fungi
32	bison	bison
33	life	lives

Practice Irregular Plurals

Print the 33 irregular plurals flashcards. Then cut and laminate the cards for durability.

Once you’ve laminated the cards you can use a dry erase marker to have your students write the answer on the card.

Play a Game to Get More Practice

Go Fish: Print two copies and play go fish.
Memory: Print two copies and play memory.