ESL Grammar: PLURAL NOUNS ending in -f/-fe

This ESL grammar lesson teaches how to make the plural form of nouns ending in “-f” or “-fe.” With these nouns, you usually change the -f/fe to “-ves.” Students then practice writing the plural form of various nouns. Learning how to form plural nouns that end in -f and -fe is a critical aspect of English grammar. This lesson is designed to help ESL students understand the rules for converting these singular nouns to their plural forms. Perfect for both online and in-person classes, this guide offers clear explanations and practical exercises to enhance learning.

ESL Grammar: Rules for Forming Plural Nouns Ending in -f and -fe

Change -f to -ves:

For many nouns ending in -f, change the -f to -ves to form the plural.

Examples:

“leaf” becomes “leaves”

“wolf” becomes “wolves”

“knife” becomes “knives”

Change -fe to -ves:

For nouns ending in -fe, change the -fe to -ves to form the plural.

Examples:

“wife” becomes “wives”

“life” becomes “lives”

Add -s:

Some nouns ending in -f or -fe simply add -s to form the plural.

Examples:

“roof” becomes “roofs”

“chief” becomes “chiefs”

“belief” becomes “beliefs”

This beginner-level ESL grammar lesson on nouns is perfect for both online and in-person classes, offering diverse content to suit any learning environment. Explore this and many similar grammar lessons for all levels on our page of ESL grammar lessons.

This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many more English grammar lessons focusing on parts of speech just like this in our comprehensive, beginner-level ESL grammar textbook Great, Great Grammar! (Book 1: Parts of Speech).