The Basics

of
Irregular Plural Nouns
 What is an irregular plural noun?
What is a regular noun? 
An irregular plural noun is a noun
A regular noun can be made plural
that becomes plural in a way other
by simply adding -s or -es to the
than adding -s or -es to the end.
end of the word. For example, a
For example, an irregular noun
regular noun like pickle becomes
like mouse changes into the plural
plural by adding an -s to the end of
noun mice. 
the word, creating the plural
Another example is the
noun pickles. 
noun thief which
becomes thieves when there is
It would make our lives as writers
more than one robber involved in
so much easier if all nouns followed
a heist. 
this simple rule, but some nouns
Or, nouns
like to be rebels, especially irregular
like sheep or scissors look exactly
nouns. 
the same whether these nouns are
referring to one or one hundred
wooly sheep or sharp scissors. 
What is the relationship between regular and
irregular plural nouns? 

Regular and irregular noun endings are both used by

writers to show whether a noun is plural. Although
the endings of these nouns are very different from
one another, their purpose is the same. 

For example, both regular and irregular nouns can

exist within the same sentence and make sense to
the reader when the correct endings are used. 
Take a look at this sentence that uses both regular
and irregular plural nouns: 

Joe’s dad bought two bikes for his children over the
weekend. 

•Bikes is a regular plural noun that uses an -s ending

to show that multiple bikes were purchased. 
•Children is an irregular plural noun that uses an -
ren ending to show that Joe’s dad has more than one
child. 
How do you use irregular plural nouns? 

Writers use both regular and irregular plural nouns

so often that you may use irregular nouns without
even realizing it. 

If you grew up speaking the English language, you

instinctively know that it would sound silly to order
“twenty shrimps” at Red Lobster. You know that the
plural of shrimp is, well, shrimp! And adding an -s to
the end to make it plural just doesn’t sound right. 
However, there has to be a better
way to understand these irregular
nouns than simply explaining that it
“doesn’t sound right”. 
There are several tips to help you
better understand these nouns by
placing them into manageable
categories.
 5 Tips for Understanding
Irregular Nouns

Here are some important tips

to help you understand
irregular nouns:
Tip #1. If the noun ends in -us, change the ending
to -i to make an irregular plural noun.

For example, a biologist might compare the nuclei of

several different cells rather than a single nucleus. 

Or, when you graduate from high school, you are

considered an alumnus, but everyone in your
graduating class as a group would be referred to
as alumni. 
Tip #2. If the noun ends in -f or -fe, change the ending to -
ves to make an irregular plural noun.

For example, a single leaf may fall from the tree in your front

yard, but there are still several leaves attached to the tree’s
branches. 

Or, a chef may have several knives in his kitchen, but he has

one particular knife that he prefers to use most often. 
Unfortunately, there are some exceptions to this rule. For
example, the plural of chief becomes chiefs, not chieves.

Remember these exceptions so that they do not trip you up

in your writing. 
Tip #3. If the noun ends in -um or -on, change the
ending to -a to make an irregular plural noun.

For example, there is a difference between

witnessing one natural phenomenon and several
natural phenomena. 

In the picture below, a town is being hit

simultaneously by both a tornado and a bolt of
lightning, or two natural phenomena. 
Also, did you know that bacteria actually
refers to a collection of individual bacterium?

Or that a collection of information is

called data while one piece of information is
called a datum? 

These are both examples of irregular nouns

with unusual plural forms. 
Tip #4. Some nouns change vowels when
they become irregular plural nouns.

For example, the names of several animals

change vowels in their plural form, such
as mouse/mice or goose/geese. 

Likewise, one man joined by another becomes

two men, while one woman becomes
two women in the plural form. 
Tip #5. Some nouns do not change at all
when they become irregular plural nouns.

Nouns like rice, deer, sheep, or moose look

exactly the same whether they are in their
singular or plural form. Therefore, writers
have to use other context clues in their
sentences to communicate which form is
being used. 
For example: Suzanne had her name
written on a grain of rice at last week’s
fair. 

We are able to figure out that the

singular form of rice is being used in this
sentence because the singular form of
the regular noun, grain, gives us that
clue. 
Irregular Nouns
Irregular Nouns
This list, obviously, does not
include all irregular plural nouns,
and there are some exceptions
to these rules; however, it is
meant to be used as a guide
while identifying these types of
nouns.
Now that you know some common irregular plural nouns, test your ability
to accurately identify these nouns.

Select the irregular plural noun(s) in the sentences below.

Remember, these nouns will look very different from regular
nouns when in their plural form.

1. Aladdin was suddenly surrounded by forty men and his

father, the King of Thieves.

In this sentence, men and thieves are both examples of

irregular plural nouns. The singular noun man became men,
and the singular noun thief became thieves.
Select the irregular plural noun(s) in the sentences below.
Remember, these nouns will look very different from regular
nouns when in their plural form.

2. The gaggle of geese waddled slowly across the busy

intersection, annoying several people who were waiting in
their cars.

In this sentence, geese and people are irregular plural nouns.

The singular noun goose changed to geese in its plural form,
and the singular noun person became people to show that
several individuals were upset. 
Select the irregular plural noun(s) in the sentences below.
Remember, these nouns will look very different from regular
nouns when in their plural form.

3. The town was experiencing multiple crises at once after

being hit by three natural phenomena in a row: first a hail
storm, then a tornado, and finally, a flood.

In this sentence, crises and phenomena are both examples of

irregular plural nouns. The singular crisis is changed to crises to
show the number of problems that faced the town, and the
singular phenomenon is changed to phenomena since several
natural events happened in succession.
Select the irregular plural noun(s) in the sentences below.
Remember, these nouns will look very different from regular
nouns when in their plural form.

4. While visiting the Rocky Mountains, tourists are likely to see

herds of bighorn sheep, moose, and deer.

In this sentence, sheep, moose, and deer are examples of

irregular nouns because these nouns keep the same form
whether they are singular or plural. The context clue, herds,
indicates to the reader that the plural form of these nouns is
being used. 
Select the irregular plural noun(s) in the sentences below.
Remember, these nouns will look very different from regular
nouns when in their plural form.

5. Cacti and fungi thrive in totally opposite environments;

while cacti grow best in hot and dry climates, fungi need
moisture and darkness to grow. 

In this sentence, cacti and fungi are examples of irregular

plural nouns. These are examples of nouns that end in -us and
need to be replaced with an -i to change the noun to plural. 
Pro tip: When evaluating whether a
noun is irregular, look at the ending
of the word. Is it plural, but it
doesn’t have a typical -s or -
es ending? If the answer is yes to
both of these questions, then your
noun is irregular.