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Grammar alert. Spelling of plurals.

When do you change -f into -ves in the plural form? What is the plural of belief and what is the plural of wife?  Read our post below to find it out.

First do a short vocabulary test. Choose the right answer:

Easy questions:


1. What is the English word for ‘a young cow’?

a. a calf b. a lamb c. a kid d. a foal





2. What is the English word for someone who steals money or valuable things from you?
a. a hijacker b. a blackmailer c. a bribee d. a thief


3. If you have a strong feeling that something exists or is true, it is your …
a. fantasy b. whim c. belief d. intention


Difficult questions:


4. After farmers have reaped wheat or rye, they bind the cut plants in bundles. One of these bundles is called...
a. a sheaf b. a scythe c. a rake d. a haystack


5. What do you call in English a piece of cloth you use to blow your nose with?
a. a sponge b. a handkerchief c. a napkin d. a duster


6. What is the English word for a small fairy-tale creature with pointed ears that has magical powers?
a. a mermaid b. a unicorn c. an elf d. a centaur


If you have answered our questions correctly, all the words you have chosen end in –f(e): a calf, a thief, belief, a sheaf, a handkerchief, a dwarf. How are their plurals formed?


In English there are 13 nouns ending in –f(e) that have plural forms ending in –ves.


Remember them:

TWO words describing people:


a wife –wives
a thief – thieves


ONE word describing a fairy tale creature:

an elf – elves

TWO words describing animals


a wolf – wolves
a calf –calves


THREE words that describe things that can be found in the kitchen:
a knife – knives
a loaf – loaves
a shelf - shelves


TWO words connected with plants:


a leaf – leaves
a sheaf – sheaves


And FOUR more words:
a half – halves
a life – lives
a scarf- scarves
self - selves


Other words ending in –f(e) have plurals ending in –fs\-fes. For example, a belief- beliefs, a handkerchief- handkerchiefs.


Let’s practise. Can you form plurals from the following nouns?


1. a cliff               6. a shelf
2. a roof              7. a leaf
3. a wolf              8. a safe
4. a proof            9. a sheriff
5. a cuff              10. a loaf

 

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