📚 Detailed Explanation of Plural Forms of Nouns Ending in f, fe, o, and y

When learning about forming plural nouns in Year 6, it’s important to understand how to change singular nouns that end with certain letters like f, fe, o, and y. These endings can have different rules, so let’s break them down clearly with examples and exceptions, following the Year 6 English National Curriculum.

🦊 Plurals of Nouns Ending in f or fe

Many nouns that end with f or fe change their ending to ves in the plural form.

  • For example:
    • leaf → leaves
    • wolf → wolves
    • knife → knives
    • wife → wives

How to remember: Change the f or fe to ves.

Exceptions: Some nouns ending in f just add an s for the plural:

  • roof → roofs
  • chef → chefs
  • belief → beliefs

🍅 Plurals of Nouns Ending in o

Nouns ending in o often add -es to make the plural, especially if they have a consonant before the o.

  • For example:
    • potato → potatoes
    • tomato → tomatoes
    • hero → heroes

Exceptions: Some nouns ending in o just add -s:

  • piano → pianos
  • photo → photos
  • zoo → zoos

Tip: If the word ends with a vowel + o, usually just add s (like radio → radios).

🎉 Plurals of Nouns Ending in y

If a noun ends in a consonant + y, you change the y to i and add -es.

  • Examples:
    • baby → babies
    • city → cities
    • party → parties

But if the noun ends in a vowel + y, just add s:

  • toy → toys
  • key → keys
  • day → days

📊 Summary Table of Rules with Examples

Ending Plural Rule Example Singular Example Plural Notes
f/fe Change f/fe to ves leaf leaves Exceptions: roof → roofs
o Add -es (if consonant + o) potato potatoes Exceptions: piano → pianos
y Change y to -ies (if consonant + y) baby babies If vowel + y, just add s
y Add s (if vowel + y) key keys

💡 Helpful Tips for Year 6 Students

  • When you see a word ending in f or fe, try changing it to ves. If that sounds wrong, test adding just s.
  • For words ending in o, listen for the sound before the o. If it’s a vowel, add s. If it’s a consonant, try adding es.
  • When a word ends in y, look at the letter before the y. If it’s a consonant, change the y to i and add es. If it’s a vowel, just add s.
  • Always read your sentence aloud to check if the plural sounds right.

These rules help you write plural nouns correctly and improve your writing skills for Year 6 English! Keep practising by looking for nouns with these endings in your reading and writing exercises.

✏️ 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Plurals of Nouns Ending in f, fe, o, and y

❓ Multiple Choice Questions

  1. What is the plural of the word leaf?
    A) leafs
    B) leaves
    C) leafes
    Answer: B) leaves
  2. Choose the correct plural form of wife.
    A) wifes
    B) wive
    C) wives
    Answer: C) wives
  3. Which is the correct plural of hero?
    A) heros
    B) heroes
    C) herose
    Answer: B) heroes
  4. What is the correct plural of baby?
    A) babys
    B) babies
    C) babyes
    Answer: B) babies

✍️ Fill in the Blanks

  1. The plural of leaf is __________.
    Answer: leaves
  2. My mother has two __________ (knife).

    3. Answer: knives

  3. Look at the __________ (potato) in the basket.

    4. Answer: potatoes

  4. The children saw many __________ (lady) at the park.

    5. Answer: ladies

📝 Short Answer Questions

  1. Write the plural of the word wolf.
    Answer: wolves
  2. How do you form the plural of words ending in -fe? Give an example with the word life.
    Answer: Change -fe to -ves; so life becomes lives.
  3. What do you add to most nouns ending in -o to make them plural? Give an example with the word piano.
    Answer: Add -s; so piano becomes pianos.
  4. Explain the rule for changing nouns ending in -y to plural. Provide an example with city.
    Answer: Change -y to -ies if there is a consonant before the y. City becomes cities.

❓ Multiple Choice Questions (Continued)

  1. Which is the plural of scarf?
    A) scarfs
    B) scarves
    Answer: B) scarves
  2. Choose the plural form of tomato.
    A) tomatos
    B) tomatoes
    Answer: B) tomatoes
  3. How do you make the plural of monkey?
    A) monkeyes
    B) monkeys
    C) monkies
    Answer: B) monkeys
  4. The plural of half is:
    A) halfs
    B) halves
    Answer: B) halves

✍️ Fill in the Blanks (Continued)

  1. We saw many __________ (elf) in the storybook.
    Answer: elves
  2. There are lots of __________ (potato) in the soup.
    Answer: potatoes
  3. Two __________ (baby) cried loudly.
    Answer: babies
  4. The plural of roof is __________.
    Answer: roofs

📌 Study Tips:

  • Remember that nouns ending in f or fe often change to -ves in the plural (e.g., wolf → wolves, knife → knives), but some just add -s (e.g., roof → roofs).
  • For nouns ending in -o, many just add -es (e.g., hero → heroes), but some add -s (e.g., piano → pianos).
  • When a noun ends in -y preceded by a consonant, change y to ies (e.g., baby → babies). If the y follows a vowel, just add -s (e.g., monkey → monkeys).
  • Practice regularly and check exceptions carefully to improve your understanding of plural nouns ending in f, fe, o, and y!