Singular & Plural Nouns — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. One deer drinks water; a herd of deer drink together.
Deer is a zero-plural noun, so the plural form is also deer.
2. One fish swims fast; ten fish swim faster.
Fish is a zero plural, so one fish and ten fish both use fish.
3. One sheep says baa; many sheep say baa.
Sheep is a zero plural that keeps the same form for one or many.
4. One moose wandered by; two moose stood by the lake.
Moose does not change in the plural, so two moose is correct.
5. One cactus in the pot; three tall cacti in the yard.
Cactus is a Latin-origin word, so the plural is cacti.
6. One octopus hid; two octopi swam by.
Octopus can use the -i ending, giving octopi as a plural.
7. One elk walks quietly; a group of elk walks quietly.
Elk stays the same in the plural, similar to deer and moose.
8. One trout in the pond; six trout in the pond.
Trout keeps the same form for one or many, like fish.
9. One fungus grows; a cluster of fungi grows on the log.
Fungus is a Latin word, so the plural is fungi.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
fish
→ fish
fish
deer
→ deer
deer
cactus
→ cacti
cacti
octopus
→ octopi
octopi
Fish and deer are zero plurals, while cactus and octopus come from other languages and take -i endings.