0
Why do you spell thieves like that and chiefs with a normal plural?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The plural thieves is an exception, since the other nouns belief, brief, chief, and relief all form normal plurals with an S. But note that the verb forms believes and relievesare like the verb "thieves" (robs).
The adoption of words into English from other languages creates various pronunciations, and the spelling usually reflects that. But there seems to be no reason why the form "thiefs" is not used.
(The word "thief" comes from the Germanic theof so we cannot blame the French.)
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt is actually somewhat arbitrary, but some nouns already has an -ieves form that has a different meaning.
Examples of plural nouns:
brief - briefs (which is also the verb)
belief - beliefs (verb is believes)
thief - thieves (which is also the verb)
Note that relief and grief do not normally form plurals, but have -ieves verb forms.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThere is no logical principle at work here. There are many inconsistencies in English spelling. English spelling results from many different influences, which are not always harmonized.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How do you spell the plural of chief?
The words ending in -ief can form normal plurals. In this case, it is chiefs.An example of the other form is thief, which becomes thieves.
How do you spell the plural of daffodil?
The noun daffodil has a normal S plural, daffodils.
How do you spell thiefs in different ways?
The plural of thief is thieves.The more rarely used verb (robs) also has the third-person singular form thieves.
Why is plural of handkerchief spelled as handkerchiefs and not handkerchieves?
The plural of kerchief is kerchiefs - not kerchieves, so the plural of handkerchief is handkerchiefs - not alternatives which is copping out. The same as the plural of thief is thieves and not thiefs. There must be some grammatical or maybe contextual rule about this, but I cannot see it. Does anybody know, or do we have to remember all of these archaic rules of spelling rather than applying a rule that can be applied to all nouns ending in ief? I thought of verbs that could also be gerunds, or nouns that were also verbs - such a thieving, but not handkerchieving, but that fails when we consider a belief and believing in its plural being beliefs. So there are no apparent rules: does anybody know of any universal law of spelling that meets my believes - sorry, beliefs? Chiefs can chief but thiefs cannot thief - so is that it? The verb form? If you can thieve then you are thieves and thieving, and if you can chief then your are chiefs and chiefing? But how about belief and beliefing? That doesn't work. There must be a rule there somewhere! I am confused - anybody any ideas? Pete article-services.com P.S.: I spell-checked this, and thiefs, chiefing and beliefing were all wrong - I know that, so where do we go from here? Later addition by Pete: I have thought on this, and: More than one thief thieves, and plural is thieves More than one chief doesn't chieve, so plural isn't chieves More than one belief is beliefs, so plural is beliefs (Obviously) More than one brief doen't brieve so plural is briefs ? There is an inkling of a pattern there - isn't their? Or maybe it's just that there are so few words ending in 'ief' that nobody has a clue what their plural is!
What is the plural way to spell the word studio?
The plural way to spell studio is studios.
How do you spell the plural of chief?
The words ending in -ief can form normal plurals. In this case, it is chiefs.An example of the other form is thief, which becomes thieves.
How do you spell the plural of worm?
It is a normal S plural, worms.
How do you spell the plural of horoscope?
The plural is a normal one, horoscopes.
How do you spell the plural of associate?
The plural is a normal S plural, associates.
How do you spell the plural of race?
The plural of "race" is "races."
How do you spell nod in plural?
The word forms the normal plural nods.
How do you spell the plural of rescue?
The noun rescue forms a normal plural : rescues.
How do you spell plural of nominee?
The noun nominee has a normal S plural, nominees.
How do you spell the plural of apostophe?
The word apostrophe has the normal S plural apostrophes.
How do you spell the plural of daffodil?
The noun daffodil has a normal S plural, daffodils.
How do you spell the plural of trampoline?
The word trampoline forms a normal S plural, trampolines.
How do you spell the plural of loaf?
The plural of loaf is loaves. Some, but not all words ending in F change it to a V and add -es to form the plural (thief-thieves, hoof-hooves).
