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Unlike regular English nouns that form the plural by adding 's' or 'es' to the end of the word, irregular English nouns require vowel or consonant changes, or suffixation. For some common nouns of Old English origin, the vowel undergoes a change (ablaut). For example:

  • foot > feet
  • man > men
  • woman > women
  • mouse > mice
  • tooth > teeth

Some other common nouns of Old English origin require the addition of 'n' or 'en' to form the plural. For example:

  • child > children
  • ox > oxen

Yet other common nouns, which are often of Old English origin and refer to groups of animals, have identical plural and singular form. For example:

  • deer > deer
  • moose > moose
  • trout > trout
  • offspring > offspring
  • sheep > sheep

For nouns of Latin origin that end in an 'a', change the 'a' to 'ae' to form the plural. For example:

  • formula > formulae
  • alumna > alumnae

For nouns of Latin origin that end in 'ex' or 'ix', change the suffix to 'ices'. For example:

  • matrix > matrices
  • vertex > vertices
  • index > indices

For nouns of Latin origin that end in 'is', change the 'is' to 'es'. For example:

  • axis > axes
  • crisis > crises
  • analysis > analyses
  • thesis > theses

For nouns of Latin origin that end in 'on', change 'on' to 'a'. For example:

  • criterion > criteria
  • phenomenon > phenomena
  • automaton > automata

For nouns of Latin origin that end in 'um', change 'um' to 'a'. For example:

  • datum > data
  • medium > media
  • addendum > addenda
  • millennium > millennia

For nouns of Latin origin that end in 'us', change the 'us' to 'i', 'era', 'ora' or 'es'. For example:

  • syllabus > syllabi
  • genus > genera
  • corpus > corpora
  • census > censuses

For nouns of Greek origin that end in 'ma', add 'ta' to the end of the word to form the plural. For example:

  • dogma > dogmata
  • stigma > stigmata
  • schema > schemata

For nouns of French origin that end in 'eau', add 'x' to the end of the word to form the plural. For example:

  • chateau > chateaux
  • beau > beaux
  • bureau > bureaux

For nouns of Hebrew origin, add 'im' or 'ot' to the end of the word to form the plural. For example:

  • cherub > cherubim
  • matzah > matzot
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What are the three rules of irregular nouns?

Irregular nouns do not follow the typical rules of adding -s or -es to form plural forms. Irregular nouns may change their spelling completely to form their plural form. Some common irregular nouns include "child" (plural: children), "man" (plural: men), and "woman" (plural: women).


What are irregular plural nouns?

A regular plural is a noun to which an -s or an -es is added to the end of the word to form the plural.An irregular plural is a plural formed in some other way. Examples of irregular plural nouns:singular / pluralmouse / miceman / menwoman / womenchild / childrenperson / peoplegoose / geeseox / oxenfoot / feet


What do you understand by regular and irregular noun?

A regular plural is a noun to which an -s or an -es is added to form the plural.An irregular plural noun is word that forms the plurals in some other way.Examples of irregular plural nouns:singular / pluralmouse / miceman / menwoman / womenchild / childrenperson / peoplegoose / geeseox / oxenfoot / feettooth / teethcactus / cactialumnus / alumnimedium / media


Do Some irregular nouns change their vowel sound to form the plural?

Yes, some irregular nouns change their vowel sound to form the plural. For example, "man" becomes "men" and "foot" becomes "feet."


How do regular nouns form their plural?

A regular noun forms the plural by adding an 's' or an 'es' to the end of the word. Nouns that form the plural in some other way are called irregular plural nouns. Examples of regular plural nouns: apple, apples church, churches friend, friends Examples of irregular plural nouns are: child, children medium, media tooth, teeth

Related Questions

What are the three rules of irregular nouns?

Irregular nouns do not follow the typical rules of adding -s or -es to form plural forms. Irregular nouns may change their spelling completely to form their plural form. Some common irregular nouns include "child" (plural: children), "man" (plural: men), and "woman" (plural: women).


What are irregular plural nouns?

A regular plural is a noun to which an -s or an -es is added to the end of the word to form the plural.An irregular plural is a plural formed in some other way. Examples of irregular plural nouns:singular / pluralmouse / miceman / menwoman / womenchild / childrenperson / peoplegoose / geeseox / oxenfoot / feet


What do you understand by regular and irregular noun?

A regular plural is a noun to which an -s or an -es is added to form the plural.An irregular plural noun is word that forms the plurals in some other way.Examples of irregular plural nouns:singular / pluralmouse / miceman / menwoman / womenchild / childrenperson / peoplegoose / geeseox / oxenfoot / feettooth / teethcactus / cactialumnus / alumnimedium / media


Do Some irregular nouns change their vowel sound to form the plural?

Yes, some irregular nouns change their vowel sound to form the plural. For example, "man" becomes "men" and "foot" becomes "feet."


How do regular nouns form their plural?

A regular noun forms the plural by adding an 's' or an 'es' to the end of the word. Nouns that form the plural in some other way are called irregular plural nouns. Examples of regular plural nouns: apple, apples church, churches friend, friends Examples of irregular plural nouns are: child, children medium, media tooth, teeth


Is there a term for defining nouns that do not add s or es to make them plural?

Yes, nouns that are made plural b adding 's' or 'es' are called regular nouns; nouns made plural by some other form are called irregular nouns.


What are the two nouns that behave irreguarly?

There are irregular plural nouns, nouns that form their plural in a way different than adding an -s or an -es to the end of the word. Examples of irregular plural nouns are:baby->babieschild->childrenhoof->hoovesmedium->mediatooth->teethwife->wives


What is the Example of irregular nouns?

Some examples of irregular nouns include "child" (plural: children), "foot" (plural: feet), and "mouse" (plural: mice). These nouns do not follow the typical rules for forming plurals in English.


What is the spelling rule for changing singular words to plural?

Nouns are made plural by adding -s or -es to form the plural, they are called regular plurals; nouns using another form for the plural are called irregular plurals. Some examples of irregular plurals are:child- childrenwoman- womentooth- teethmouse- miceknife- knivesoasis- oasesgoose- geesecactus- cacti


Is it true Some irregular nouns change their vowel sound to form the plural?

Yes, some irregular nouns change their vowel sound to form the plural. For example, "man" becomes "men" and "foot" becomes "feet." These changes are not consistent and must be memorized.


What are the examples of irregular nouns?

A regular plural is a noun to which an -s or an -es is added to form the plural. An irregular plural is a plural formed in some other way. Examples of irregular plural nouns:singular / pluralmouse / miceman / menwoman / womenchild / childrenperson / peoplegoose / geeseox / oxenfoot / feettooth / teethcactus / cactialumnus / alumnimedium / mediaknife / kniveswife / wivesbaby / babiesmemory / memoriesalumnus / alumnibacterium / bacteriatheses / thesis


What is the Irregular plural for child?

The irregular plural of 'child' is 'children', the plural possessive form is children's.