Singular & Plural Nouns — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A hungry wolf howls; a pack of wolves howls louder.
Wolf changes to wolves by swapping f for ves.
2. One shelf is empty; all three shelves are empty.
Shelf becomes shelves because lf often changes to lves.
3. A cat has nine lives.
Life becomes lives because fe changes to ves.
4. Set the table with forks and knives.
Knife becomes knives, using the fe to ves rule.
5. Trees drop colorful leaves in fall.
Leaf becomes leaves by swapping f for ves.
6. My older brother cooks his own meals; he takes care of himself, while my sisters take care of themselves.
Self becomes selves because lf changes to lves.
7. The bakery sells fresh loaves of bread.
Loaf becomes loaves by swapping f for ves.
8. Thieves run fast, but honest kids never become thieves.
Thief becomes thieves following the f to ves rule.
9. The farmer tied up the sheaf, then stacked all the sheaves.
Sheaf becomes sheaves using the f to ves rule.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
wolf
→ wolves
wolves
shelf
→ shelves
shelves
knife
→ knives
knives
leaf
→ leaves
leaves
These irregulars follow the f/fe to ves pattern, so each word matches its ves plural.