Plural & Singular Nouns - All Things Grammar - Free Printable

Let's solve this Grammar Worksheet on Plural Nouns, focusing on special nouns that have irregular plural forms. These are nouns that don't follow the standard rules (like adding -s or -es), so they need to be memorized.

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Instructions:

Write the plural forms of these special nouns.

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Here’s the completed worksheet with explanations:

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1. I can see two (fish)______ in the fish tank.
✔ fish
→ *Fish* is one of those nouns that has the same form for singular and plural.
So: two fish

2. How many (child)______ are there in the school yard?
✔ children
→ *Child* becomes children (irregular).
Example: "The children are playing."

3. We still need three more forks and (knife)______ for our dinner guests.
✔ knives
→ *Knife* becomes knives (add -ves).
Note: This is a regular plural, but it's listed as "special" because of the spelling change.

4. Many trees lose their (leaf)______ in the fall.
✔ leaves
→ *Leaf* becomes leaves (change 'f' to 'v' and add -es).

5. Many (deer)______ live in that forest.
✔ deer
→ Like *fish*, *deer* is the same in singular and plural.
Example: "One deer" / "Two deer"

6. Sharks can grow thousands of (tooth)______ in a lifetime.
✔ teeth
→ *Tooth* becomes teeth (irregular plural).

7. What is the population of Mexico? How many (person)______ live there?
✔ people
→ *Person* becomes people (not "persons", though "persons" is sometimes used legally).
In everyday English: "How many people live there?"

8. Cats like to catch (mouse)______
✔ mice
→ *Mouse* becomes mice (irregular plural).

9. I really want to sit down. My (foot)______ are killing me!
✔ feet
→ *Foot* becomes feet (irregular plural).

10. (Octopus)______ have eight arms and live in the sea.
✔ octopuses (or octopi, octopodes)
→ The most common and accepted plural is octopuses.
While *octopi* is often used, it's technically incorrect (it assumes Latin root, but "octopus" comes from Greek).
Best answer: octopuses

11. There are lots of ducks and (goose)______ in this park.
✔ geese
→ *Goose* becomes geese (irregular plural).

12. The policeman followed the three (man)______ out of the bank.
✔ men
→ *Man* becomes men (irregular plural).

13. Many husbands and (wife)______ eat at restaurants on Valentine's Day.
✔ wives
→ *Wife* becomes wives (add -es).

14. (Wolf)______ look very much like large dogs.
✔ wolves
→ *Wolf* becomes wolves (add -ves).

15. Farmer Brown has lots of (sheep)______.
✔ sheep
→ Like *deer* and *fish*, *sheep* is the same in singular and plural.
Example: "One sheep" / "Three sheep"

16. How many (woman)______ work in your office?
✔ women
→ *Woman* becomes women (irregular plural).

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✔ Final Answers:

1. fish
2. children
3. knives
4. leaves
5. deer
6. teeth
7. people
8. mice
9. feet
10. octopuses
11. geese
12. men
13. wives
14. wolves
15. sheep
16. women

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📝 Summary of Irregular Plural Rules:

- Same in singular and plural: fish, deer, sheep
- Change 'f' or 'fe' to 'v' + 'es': knife → knives, leaf → leaves, wolf → wolves
- Irregular changes: child → children, man → men, woman → women, foot → feet, tooth → teeth, mouse → mice, goose → geese
- Special cases: person → people, octopus → octopuses (preferred)

This worksheet helps students learn common irregular plurals that don’t follow standard patterns.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or flashcards for practice!