Forming Plural Nouns in English
III. Words ending in “f” or "fe"g
a. The first table includes words ending in "f", change the "f" to "v" and add "es".h
The second table includes words ending in "fe", change the "fe" to "v" and add "es". g
Note: Learn these first
| 1. calf |
calves |
| 2. elf |
elves |
| 3. half |
halves |
| 4. leaf |
leaves |
| 5. loaf |
loaves |
| 6. ourself |
ourselves |
| 7. self |
selves |
| 8. sheaf |
sheaves |
| 9. shelf |
shelves |
| 10. themself |
themselves |
| 11. thief |
thieves |
| 12. wolf |
wolves |
| 13. yourself |
yourselves |
| 14. life |
lives |
| 14a. afterlife |
afterlives |
| 14b. midlife |
midlives |
| 14c. nightlife |
nightlives |
| 15. knife |
knives |
| 15a. penknife |
penknives |
| 16. wife |
wives |
| 16a. housewife |
housewives |
| 16b. midwife |
midwives |
b. By learning the two tables above first, all other words ending in "f" or "fe" will add “s”, including proper nouns. These are names given to specific people, places, or things and they must begin with a capital letter.h
Examples:
| chef |
chefs |
| chief |
chiefs |
| cliff |
cliffs |
| giraffe |
giraffes |
| handcuff |
handcuffs |
| pilaf |
pilafs |
| proof |
proofs |
| ref |
refs |
| roof |
roofs |
| safe |
safes |
| staff |
staffs |
| surf |
surfs |
| Wolf |
Wolfs |
| Wolfe |
Wolfes |
c. Some have two forms of the plural.
(The words in bold are preferred by www.merriam-webster.com)
| dwarf |
dwarfs or dwarves |
| handkerchief |
handkerchiefs or handkerchieves |
| hoof |
hooves or hoofs |
| scarf |
scarfs or scarves |
| wharf |
wharves or wharfs |
If you are not sure how to form the plural, always consult the dictionary.
خبرنامه وب سایت:
آمار
وب سایت: