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Words that end with a double f usually do not becomes ves when pluralised. Roof is a word that should become roofs when pluralised but through common usage the plural 'rooves' is increasingly recognised.

Other examples include: -Cliff becomes cliffs

-Proof (for example a photographic proof) becomes proofs

-Pontiff becomes Pontiffs (if you were speaking of more than one Pope ie Pontiffs have ordinarily been male).

-Bailiff becomes bailiffs

-Belief becomes beliefs

-Bluff becomes bluffs

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15y ago
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8y ago

The standard for nouns ending in -f are made plural by adding an -s are nouns that end in double f.

Some examples are:

  • one sheriff, two sheriffs
  • one cuff, two cuffs
  • one cliff, two cliffs
  • one puff, two puffs
  • one sniff, two sniffs
  • one skiff, two skiffs
  • one whiff, two whiffs

Examples of other nouns ending in -f are made plural by adding an -s are:

  • one safe, two safes
  • one fife, two fifes
  • one giraffe, two giraffes
  • one gulf, two gulfs
  • one roof, two roofs
  • one proof, two proofs
  • one chef, two chefs
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Q: What nouns retain the f in the plural form?
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What nouns change from F to VES in the plural?

Examples of nouns that end in -f or -fe that change to -ves to form the plural are:calf; calveshalf; halveshoof; hoovesknife; knivesleaf; leaveslife; livesloaf; loavesscarf; scarvesself; selvessheaf; sheavesshelf; shelvesthief; thieveswife; wiveswolf; wolves


How do you form the plural of a noun that ends with the letter f?

The only time you would add "es" to make a plural for a word ending in "f" is if the plural requires that the "f" be changed to a "v". For example: thief becomes thieves. If the "f" doesn't change, then just add "s".


What is the plural of belief?

The plural of the noun belief is beliefs. Some nouns that end in 'f' are exceptions to the rule that states that 'f' needs to be changed to a 've' and add 's' (e.g. chief - chiefs).The verb form is believe (believes, believing, believed); for example:"He has many beliefs in which he believes."


What are the rules for singular nouns ending in s?

For the majority of nouns ending in 's', add 'es' to form the plural. For example:kiss > kissesiris > irisesbusiness > businessesglass > glassesbus > busesgas > gases


Why does the plural form of knife change to knives or wife to wives it's the f to v part I am asking about?

English nouns ending in an unvoiced f sound in the singular, but not spelled ff, change the f to a voiced v sound in the plural. Notice that the s of the plural is also voiced to a z in such words. There are other cases of this linguistic rule: the s in house is pronounced as a z in houses. See Verner's Law.

Related questions

What nouns change from F to VES in the plural?

Examples of nouns that end in -f or -fe that change to -ves to form the plural are:calf; calveshalf; halveshoof; hoovesknife; knivesleaf; leaveslife; livesloaf; loavesscarf; scarvesself; selvessheaf; sheavesshelf; shelvesthief; thieveswife; wiveswolf; wolves


What is the plural form of nouns ending with f?

It depends on the noun. Some have -fs, some have -ves, and some show both forms.


How do you form the plural of a noun that ends with the letter f?

The only time you would add "es" to make a plural for a word ending in "f" is if the plural requires that the "f" be changed to a "v". For example: thief becomes thieves. If the "f" doesn't change, then just add "s".


What is the plural of the noun thiefs?

Most nouns that end with 'f' or 'fe' are made plural by dropping the 'f' or 'fe' and adding 'ves'. The plural for thief is thieves (not thiefs).


Why are words that have an f that does not change to a v when pluralized?

plural nouns are nouns that tell a person place thing or idea


What are the ways of forming of plural nouns?

In English, almost all nouns form their plural form by adding -s to the singular form (book > books). A handful of these, ending in -f, change the -f to a -v as well (calf > calves).Exactly seven English nouns form the plural by changing a vowel:foot > feetgoose > geeselouse > liceman > menmouse > micetooth > teethwoman > womenAnd three add -en instead of -s:brother > brethren (archaic form, no longer used)child > childrenox > oxenA number of nouns that refer to animals have no distinct plural form at all:deer > deerfish > fishmoose > moosequail > quail(etc.)Then there are a number of nouns borrowed from Latin or Greek, whose plurals in English are the same as in their original language:(from Latin):appendix > appendicesgenus > generaradius > radii...etc.(from Greek):analysis > analysesphenomenon > phenomena...etc.[source: Pinker, Words and Rules]


What the plural for f?

The plural form could be Fs.


Do you add es or s for sheaf?

Nouns that end with 'f' or 'fe' are made plural by dropping the 'f' or the 'fe' and adding 'ves'. The plural for sheaf is sheaves.


What is the plural of belief?

The plural of the noun belief is beliefs. Some nouns that end in 'f' are exceptions to the rule that states that 'f' needs to be changed to a 've' and add 's' (e.g. chief - chiefs).The verb form is believe (believes, believing, believed); for example:"He has many beliefs in which he believes."


How do you normally make the plural form of a singular noun that ends in f or fe?

For nouns ending in "f" or "fe," the general rule is to change the ending to "-ves" to form the plural form. For example, "wolf" becomes "wolves" and "life" becomes "lives." However, there are exceptions to this rule, and some nouns simply add an "s" to form the plural, such as "chief" becoming "chiefs."


Nouns ending in f or fe and add -s?

To make the singular nouns ending in f and fe plural, change f to v then add es. Examples: wife - wives thief - thieves


What is the plural form of f?

Hmm.. i suppose its either "F" or "F's".