33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie] - Speech Therapy Store (2024)

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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.

33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie] - Speech Therapy Store (1)

The Most Common Irregular Plurals

Example: Nouns ending in-for-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)
knifeknives
lifelives
wifewives
calfcalves
leafleaves

Nouns That Change Their Vowels

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

For example,oo becomeseeoranbecomesen.

SingularPlural (vowel change)
footfeet
toothteeth
goosegeese
manmen
womanwomen

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

SingularPlural
mousemice
diedice
oxoxen
childchildren
personpeople

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.

SingularPlural
1fishfish
2firemanfiremen
3halfhalves
4diedice
5wifewives
6calfcalves
7footfeet
8wolfwolves
9octopusoctopuses
10goosegeese
11thiefthieves
12elfelves
13deerdeer
14womanwomen
15policemanpolicemen
16cactuscacti
17scarfscarves
18knifeknives
19childchildren
20shelfshelves
21loafloaves
22manmen
23moosemoose
24personpeople
25sheepsheep
26hoofhooves
27leafleaves
28toothteeth
29mousemice
30oxoxen
31fungusfungi
32bisonbison
33lifelives

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.

33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie] - Speech Therapy Store (2)
33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie] - Speech Therapy Store (3)
33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie] - Speech Therapy Store (4)

Play a Game to Get More Practice

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

Looking for More Great Freebies?

33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie] - Speech Therapy Store (2024)

FAQs

What are 15 examples of irregular plural nouns? ›

The following list shows fifteen examples of irregular nouns. Those are: man, woman, mouse, goose, moose, leaf, knife, criterion, louse, phenomenon, thesis, foot, child, half, wife.

How do you target plural S in speech therapy? ›

Tip 1 - Practice with Toys: One versus Many

The first strategy for eliciting a plural -s is talking about your child's toys. Toys are a great tangible and visual example of the concept of singular versus plural. For example, you can show your child one car. You can also show them several cars.

What are the 6 irregular plural? ›

100 Irregular Plural Nouns List
addendumaddenda or addendums
vortexvortices or vortexes
wharfwharves or wharfs
wifewives
wolfwolves
94 more rows
Nov 4, 2019

What are 30 examples of plural nouns? ›

  • Man – men.
  • Woman – women.
  • Ox – oxen.
  • Goose – geese.
  • Child – children.
  • Tooth – teeth.
  • Foot – feet.
  • Mouse – mice.

What are common irregular plurals? ›

Take, for instance, the singular nouns “leaf” and “knife.” The irregular plural nouns become “leaves” and “knives,” respectively. Other example words that change to “ves” in the plural form are: Life (lives) Loaf (loaves) Wolf (wolves)

How to teach irregular plurals in SLP? ›

Irregular Plural Nouns Step One: Make a Word List. First you will need to compile your list of irregular plural nouns word pairs and create materials to help your child practice. Come up with a list of word pairs that have irregular plural nouns. For example, “foot” and “feet” would be one pair.

What are the 4 S in speech therapy? ›

To help remember how to adjust what you say to make it easier for your child to understand, use the following rhyme: Say Less, and Stress, Go Slow, and Show. Repeat Often! This poster presents this rhyme in a colourful and fun way, so you always remember to adjust what you say using the Four “S”s!

What are irregular plurals and examples? ›

Irregular plural nouns are nouns that do not become plural by adding -s or -es, as most nouns in the English language do. You're probably familiar with many of these already. For example, the plural form of man is men, not mans. The plural form of woman is women, not womans.

What are 3 examples of irregular plural nouns? ›

Here's a few examples that pupils might be likely to come across in day-to-day use:
  • Mouse -mice.
  • Loaf - loaves.
  • Child - children.
  • Wolf - wolves.
  • Person - people.
  • Thief - thieves.
  • Scarf - scarves.

What are five irregular plural nouns? ›

For example,
  • A life – Some lives.
  • A knife – Some knives.
  • A leaf – Some leaves.
  • A wife – Some wives.
  • A calf – Some calves.
  • A loaf – Some loaves.
  • A scarf – Some scarves.

What is the plural of woman? ›

Women is the plural of woman.

Can you list 8 nouns having irregular plural? ›

A wife – Some wives. A calf – Some calves. A loaf – Some loaves. A scarf – Some scarves.

What are 10 examples of regular nouns? ›

The example nouns are man, child, foot, tooth, mouse, and person. These are regular nouns where we just add the S to make them plural. The example nouns are zoo, radio, stereo, video, and kangaroo. This chart exists to be able to compare it with the next chart about nouns ending in a consonant + O.

What is the plural form of 100? ›

Word forms: plural hundreds language note: The plural form is hundred after a number, or after a word or expression referring to a number, such as 'several' or 'a few'. A hundred or one hundred is the number 100. According to one official more than a hundred people have been arrested.

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