Irregular Plural Nouns worksheet for grammar practice.
A worksheet titled "Irregular Plural Nouns" with instructions and a list of sentences to rewrite using correct plural forms, featuring a mix of irregular nouns like "child," "mouse," and "man."
JPG
270×350
39.7 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #284159
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Irregular Plural Nouns Worksheet by Learners of the World worksheets library
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Irregular Plural Nouns Worksheet by Learners of the World worksheets library
You're working on a worksheet titled “Irregular Plural Nouns”. The task is to rewrite each sentence using the correct plural form of the noun in parentheses.
Some nouns don’t follow the regular “add -s or -es” rule — these are called irregular plurals. You need to memorize them or recognize common patterns.
---
Let’s go through each sentence one by one and explain the correct plural form:
---
1. I have ten ___ (scarf) in my closet.
✔ scarves
*Explanation:* “Scarf” → “scarves” is irregular. Although “scarfs” is sometimes accepted, “scarves” is the more traditional and commonly taught plural.
---
2. Kim has two ___ (child) aged two and five.
✔ children
*Explanation:* “Child” → “children” is a classic irregular plural.
---
3. I brush my ___ (tooth) in the morning.
✔ teeth
*Explanation:* “Tooth” → “teeth” — another common irregular plural.
---
4. Cats like to chase ___ (mouse).
✔ mice
*Explanation:* “Mouse” → “mice” — irregular plural.
---
5. Two ___ (half) make a whole.
✔ halves
*Explanation:* “Half” → “halves”. Words ending in “-f” or “-fe” often change to “-ves” in plural (e.g., leaf → leaves, knife → knives).
---
6. There are several ___ (ox) on the road.
✔ oxen
*Explanation:* “Ox” → “oxen” — very old English irregular plural.
---
7. Three ___ (man) wearing masks entered the bank.
✔ men
*Explanation:* “Man” → “men” — irregular plural.
---
8. Deer and ___ (mouse) are still found in the state.
✔ mice
*Explanation:* Same as #4 — “mouse” → “mice”.
---
9. The way to catch ___ (mouse) is to set a trap.
✔ mice
*Explanation:* Again, plural of “mouse” is “mice”.
---
10. We saw a flock of ___ (goose) in the lake.
✔ geese
*Explanation:* “Goose” → “geese” — irregular plural.
---
11. The deer always come ___ (deer) here.
✔ deer
*Explanation:* “Deer” is the same in singular and plural — it’s an irregular noun that doesn’t change.
---
12. My brother is six ___ (foot) three inches tall.
✔ feet
*Explanation:* “Foot” → “feet” — irregular plural.
---
13. People say that a cat has nine ___ (life).
✔ lives
*Explanation:* “Life” → “lives” — this one is tricky because it ends in “-f”, so it becomes “-ves”. (Not “lifes”!)
---
14. The horse’s ___ (hoof) needs to be cleaned.
✔ hooves
*Explanation:* “Hoof” → “hooves” — follows the “-f” to “-ves” pattern. (“Hoofs” is also acceptable in some contexts, but “hooves” is preferred.)
---
15. The customer wants four ___ (loaf) of bread.
✔ loaves
*Explanation:* “Loaf” → “loaves” — again, “-f” becomes “-ves”.
---
16. The ___ (thief) were caught by the police.
✔ thieves
*Explanation:* “Thief” → “thieves” — another “-f” → “-ves” word.
---
17. Eagles fly alone, but ___ (sheep) flock together.
✔ sheep
*Explanation:* “Sheep” is the same in singular and plural — no change.
---
18. I can see ___ (person) walking along the street.
✔ people
*Explanation:* “Person” → “people” — irregular plural. (Note: “persons” is used in legal/formal contexts, but “people” is standard for general use.)
---
1. scarves
2. children
3. teeth
4. mice
5. halves
6. oxen
7. men
8. mice
9. mice
10. geese
11. deer
12. feet
13. lives
14. hooves
15. loaves
16. thieves
17. sheep
18. people
---
💡 Tip for Learning Irregular Plurals:
Group them by pattern:
- -f/-fe → -ves: half → halves, leaf → leaves, life → lives, thief → thieves, wolf → wolves
- Vowel change: man → men, woman → women, foot → feet, tooth → teeth, goose → geese
- Same singular/plural: deer, sheep, fish (sometimes), moose
- Other oddballs: child → children, mouse → mice, ox → oxen
Keep practicing — they’ll become second nature!
Let me know if you want flashcards or a quiz to test yourself! 😊
Some nouns don’t follow the regular “add -s or -es” rule — these are called irregular plurals. You need to memorize them or recognize common patterns.
---
Let’s go through each sentence one by one and explain the correct plural form:
---
1. I have ten ___ (scarf) in my closet.
✔ scarves
*Explanation:* “Scarf” → “scarves” is irregular. Although “scarfs” is sometimes accepted, “scarves” is the more traditional and commonly taught plural.
---
2. Kim has two ___ (child) aged two and five.
✔ children
*Explanation:* “Child” → “children” is a classic irregular plural.
---
3. I brush my ___ (tooth) in the morning.
✔ teeth
*Explanation:* “Tooth” → “teeth” — another common irregular plural.
---
4. Cats like to chase ___ (mouse).
✔ mice
*Explanation:* “Mouse” → “mice” — irregular plural.
---
5. Two ___ (half) make a whole.
✔ halves
*Explanation:* “Half” → “halves”. Words ending in “-f” or “-fe” often change to “-ves” in plural (e.g., leaf → leaves, knife → knives).
---
6. There are several ___ (ox) on the road.
✔ oxen
*Explanation:* “Ox” → “oxen” — very old English irregular plural.
---
7. Three ___ (man) wearing masks entered the bank.
✔ men
*Explanation:* “Man” → “men” — irregular plural.
---
8. Deer and ___ (mouse) are still found in the state.
✔ mice
*Explanation:* Same as #4 — “mouse” → “mice”.
---
9. The way to catch ___ (mouse) is to set a trap.
✔ mice
*Explanation:* Again, plural of “mouse” is “mice”.
---
10. We saw a flock of ___ (goose) in the lake.
✔ geese
*Explanation:* “Goose” → “geese” — irregular plural.
---
11. The deer always come ___ (deer) here.
✔ deer
*Explanation:* “Deer” is the same in singular and plural — it’s an irregular noun that doesn’t change.
---
12. My brother is six ___ (foot) three inches tall.
✔ feet
*Explanation:* “Foot” → “feet” — irregular plural.
---
13. People say that a cat has nine ___ (life).
✔ lives
*Explanation:* “Life” → “lives” — this one is tricky because it ends in “-f”, so it becomes “-ves”. (Not “lifes”!)
---
14. The horse’s ___ (hoof) needs to be cleaned.
✔ hooves
*Explanation:* “Hoof” → “hooves” — follows the “-f” to “-ves” pattern. (“Hoofs” is also acceptable in some contexts, but “hooves” is preferred.)
---
15. The customer wants four ___ (loaf) of bread.
✔ loaves
*Explanation:* “Loaf” → “loaves” — again, “-f” becomes “-ves”.
---
16. The ___ (thief) were caught by the police.
✔ thieves
*Explanation:* “Thief” → “thieves” — another “-f” → “-ves” word.
---
17. Eagles fly alone, but ___ (sheep) flock together.
✔ sheep
*Explanation:* “Sheep” is the same in singular and plural — no change.
---
18. I can see ___ (person) walking along the street.
✔ people
*Explanation:* “Person” → “people” — irregular plural. (Note: “persons” is used in legal/formal contexts, but “people” is standard for general use.)
---
✔ Final Answers:
1. scarves
2. children
3. teeth
4. mice
5. halves
6. oxen
7. men
8. mice
9. mice
10. geese
11. deer
12. feet
13. lives
14. hooves
15. loaves
16. thieves
17. sheep
18. people
---
💡 Tip for Learning Irregular Plurals:
Group them by pattern:
- -f/-fe → -ves: half → halves, leaf → leaves, life → lives, thief → thieves, wolf → wolves
- Vowel change: man → men, woman → women, foot → feet, tooth → teeth, goose → geese
- Same singular/plural: deer, sheep, fish (sometimes), moose
- Other oddballs: child → children, mouse → mice, ox → oxen
Keep practicing — they’ll become second nature!
Let me know if you want flashcards or a quiz to test yourself! 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of irregular plural noun printable.
