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en:grammar:nouns:plural_nouns:irregular_ending [2016/09/27 11:57] – créée kimen:grammar:nouns:plural_nouns:irregular_ending [2023/02/14 14:32] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 =====Construction and examples===== =====Construction and examples=====
 <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 107%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Most depend on the ending of the singular noun but there are exceptions and some involve other spelling changes. Here are some examples of the most common:</span></b></p> <p> <table style="border: currentColor; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" table=""> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.8pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Singular</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 102.9pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Plural</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Comments</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>f/fe </span></b><b><span style='font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: FR; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-ansi-language: FR;'><!--?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /--> </span></b><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 126.8pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>shelf</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>half</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>leaf</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>life</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>knife</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 102.9pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>shelves</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>halves</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>leaves</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>lives</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>knives</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>This includes most words ending in 'lf' but an exception is 'gulfs'.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Words ending in 'ff' take 's' e.g. 'cliffs'.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Some words ending in a single 'f' take 's', e.g. 'chiefs', whilst others can take either form, e.g. 'scarfs'/'scarves'.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 126.8pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 102.9pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="height: 3pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>oo </span></b><b><span style='font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: FR; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-ansi-language: FR;'><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" style="width: 14.25pt; height: 9pt; visibility: visible; mso-wrap-style: square;" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="arrow to the right"> </v:shape></span></b><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.8pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>tooth</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>goose</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>foot<span style="color: gray;"></span></span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 102.9pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>teeth</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>geese</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>feet<span style="color: gray;"></span></span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>This only applies to a minority of words. Most with 'oo' are regular, e.g. boots, spoons, books.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: gray; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none none solid solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Sometimes, there is no change.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.8pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>sheep</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>deer</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>fish</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>means</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>series</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>species</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>aircraft</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 102.9pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>sheep</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>deer</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>fish/fishes*</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>means</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>series</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>species</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>aircraft</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>There are lots of other examples including more animals and types of fish, e.g. salmon and cod.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>It is correct to use 'fish' for more than one of the same species and 'fishes' for more than one of different species. 'Fish' is also an uncountable noun when referring to food.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p><br><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 107%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>See also <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">subject/verb agreement</span> and <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">compound nouns</span>.</span></b>&nbsp;</p></html> <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 107%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Most depend on the ending of the singular noun but there are exceptions and some involve other spelling changes. Here are some examples of the most common:</span></b></p> <p> <table style="border: currentColor; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" table=""> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.8pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Singular</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 102.9pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Plural</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Comments</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>f/fe </span></b><b><span style='font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: FR; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-ansi-language: FR;'><!--?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /--> </span></b><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 126.8pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>shelf</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>half</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>leaf</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>life</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>knife</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 102.9pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>shelves</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>halves</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>leaves</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>lives</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>knives</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>This includes most words ending in 'lf' but an exception is 'gulfs'.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Words ending in 'ff' take 's' e.g. 'cliffs'.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Some words ending in a single 'f' take 's', e.g. 'chiefs', whilst others can take either form, e.g. 'scarfs'/'scarves'.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 126.8pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); width: 102.9pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="height: 3pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>oo </span></b><b><span style='font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: FR; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-ansi-language: FR;'><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" style="width: 14.25pt; height: 9pt; visibility: visible; mso-wrap-style: square;" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="arrow to the right"> </v:shape></span></b><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.8pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>tooth</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>goose</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>foot<span style="color: gray;"></span></span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 102.9pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>teeth</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>geese</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>feet<span style="color: gray;"></span></span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; height: 3pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>This only applies to a minority of words. Most with 'oo' are regular, e.g. boots, spoons, books.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: gray; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none none solid solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.85pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Sometimes, there is no change.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="169" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.8pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>sheep</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>deer</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>fish</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>means</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>series</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>species</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>aircraft</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="137" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 102.9pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>sheep</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>deer</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>fish/fishes*</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>means</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>series</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>species</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>aircraft</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td> <td width="166" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.25pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>There are lots of other examples including more animals and types of fish, e.g. salmon and cod.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>It is correct to use 'fish' for more than one of the same species and 'fishes' for more than one of different species. 'Fish' is also an uncountable noun when referring to food.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>&nbsp;</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p><br><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 107%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>See also <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">subject/verb agreement</span> and <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">compound nouns</span>.</span></b>&nbsp;</p></html>
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