Forming Irregular Plural Nouns in English - Part 4A
IV. Irregular plural nouns
1. Words that don't change. They are the same in both the singular and the plural.
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
| aircraft | aircraft |
| barracks | barracks |
| bison* | bison |
| buffalo* | buffalo |
| deer* | deer |
| fish* | fish or fishes (different species) |
| macaroni | macaroni |
| moose* | moose |
| offspring | offspring |
| pike* | pike |
| plankton* | plankton |
| ravioli | ravioli |
| salmon* | salmon |
| sheep* | sheep |
| spaghetti | spaghetti |
| species | species |
| swine* | swine |
| tagliatelli | tagliatelli |
| trout* | trout |
* Many animals and fish have the same singular and plural form.
2. A few words add "en" to the ending to make the plural.
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
| brother | brethren or brothers |
| child | children |
| ox | oxen |
| schoolchild | schoolchildren |
3. Ablaut plurals are sometimes formed by simply changing the vowel sound of the singular noun.
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
| fireman | firemen |
| foot | feet |
| goose | geese |
| louse | lice |
| man | men |
| mouse | mice |
| tooth | teeth |
| workman | workmen |
| woman | women |
If in doubt, please check the dictionary!
You may continue to Part 4C in the reference or
take this challenge English/Spanish learners - Irregular plural English nouns - Part 4B.
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updated Sep 27, 2012
edited by bandit51jd
