What Are Irregular Plural Nouns?
Irregular plural nouns are nouns that do not follow the standard rule of adding "s" or "es" to form the plural.
Instead, they change in various ways, such as altering vowels, changing the word completely, or staying the same in both singular and plural forms.
Common Irregular Plural Nouns
Several nouns change form completely when pluralized. Here are some of the most common:
Child becomes children.
Foot becomes feet.
Mouse becomes mice.
For example:
"The child is playing" becomes "The children are playing."
"The mouse is small" becomes "The mice are small."
Categories of Irregular Plural Nouns
Irregular plural nouns can be categorized based on how they change.
Nouns that change vowels
These nouns change the vowel sound in the word.
Man becomes men.
Woman becomes women.
Nouns that remain the same
Some nouns do not change at all in their plural form.
Sheep remains sheep.
Deer remains deer.
Nouns with unique changes
Certain nouns have unique changes that don't fit into the other categories.
Person becomes people.
Cactus becomes cacti.
Tips for Learning Irregular Plural Nouns
Learning these nouns can be challenging, but there are effective strategies to make it easier.
Practice with common examples: Regularly review and use common irregular plurals in sentences.
Use flashcards and memory games: Create flashcards with singular on one side and plural on the other.
Incorporate irregular plurals into daily conversations: Make a conscious effort to use these words correctly when speaking.
Resources for further practice: Utilize online exercises and worksheets to reinforce your learning.
Exceptions and Special Cases
Some nouns have both regular and irregular plural forms. Additionally, foreign words and compound nouns have their own rules.
Nouns with both regular and irregular forms:
Scarf: scarfs/scarves
Foreign words and their plural forms:
Alumnus: alumni
Criterion: criteria