KS3 Spelling | Learn Plurals of Nouns Ending in F or FE

English Quiz - Spelling (Plurals for nouns ending in f or fe) 01 (Questions)

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Some nouns ending in -f or -fe have plural forms ending in -ves. And some don't! As ever, there are always exceptions in English to keep you on your toes.

What happens to words like "knife", "wife", "half", "elf" and "life" when they become plural? If you say the words aloud, you notice that the f begins to soften and becomes a v sound instead. In spelling, these plural words look like this: "knives", "wives", "halves", "elves" and "lives". In every case, the v is followed by an -es, rather than only an -s ("knivs" just wouldn't look right somehow, at least in English).

Knowing how to make words ending in -f or -fe plural is one of those useful spelling rules to learn. If in doubt, try saying the plural form aloud, listening for a v sound. If you can hear the v, the word is not likely to be an exception to the rule. These exceptions include "chief" (chiefs), "roof" (roofs) and words ending in a double f, such as "cliff" (cliffs, not clives....).

Spelling is such an important skill, so why not play all of our spelling quizzes to really sharpen your mind!

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The footballers' ....... cheered as their husbands played.

[ ]	wife
[ ]	wifes
[ ]	wive
[ ]	wives

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
In autumn the ....... turn golden.

[ ]	leaf
[ ]	leafs
[ ]	leave
[ ]	leaves

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The cow gave birth to twin .......

[ ]	calf
[ ]	calfs
[ ]	calve
[ ]	calves

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
In the bakery there were still some ....... on the .......

[ ]	loaf, shelf
[ ]	loafs, shelfs
[ ]	loaves, shelfs
[ ]	loaves, shelves

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The ....... howled in the snowy forest.

[ ]	wolf
[ ]	wolfs
[ ]	wolve
[ ]	wolves

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The students purchased red, blue and green .......

[ ]	scarf
[ ]	scarfes
[ ]	scarves
[ ]	scarvs

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
Put these ten ....... and forks on the table please!

[ ]	knife
[ ]	knifes
[ ]	knive
[ ]	knives

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The book is about the ....... of great composers.

[ ]	life
[ ]	lifes
[ ]	live
[ ]	lives

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The newborn ....... were just beginning their .......

[ ]	calf, lives
[ ]	calfs, lifes
[ ]	calves, life
[ ]	calves, lives

10.

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The ....... of each band of warriors held a meeting.

[ ]	chief
[ ]	chiefs
[ ]	chieve
[ ]	chieves

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Spelling

English Quiz - Spelling (Plurals for nouns ending in f or fe) 01 (Answers)

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The footballers' ....... cheered as their husbands played.

[ ]	wife
[ ]	wifes
[ ]	wive
[x]	wives

"Wife" loses the -fe and adds -ves to form its plural

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
In autumn the ....... turn golden.

[ ]	leaf
[ ]	leafs
[ ]	leave
[x]	leaves

One "leaf", but more than one "leaves"

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The cow gave birth to twin .......

[ ]	calf
[ ]	calfs
[ ]	calve
[x]	calves

More than one "calf" is "calves" (this is also true of the leg muscle)

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
In the bakery there were still some ....... on the .......

[ ]	loaf, shelf
[ ]	loafs, shelfs
[ ]	loaves, shelfs
[x]	loaves, shelves

One "loaf" on a "shelf", but many "loaves" on the "shelves"

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The ....... howled in the snowy forest.

[ ]	wolf
[ ]	wolfs
[ ]	wolve
[x]	wolves

One "wolf", many "wolves"

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The students purchased red, blue and green .......

[ ]	scarf
[ ]	scarfes
[x]	scarves
[ ]	scarvs

How many nouns can you think of which end in -f or -fe? Do they all lose the -f/-fe for a -ves when plural?

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
Put these ten ....... and forks on the table please!

[ ]	knife
[ ]	knifes
[ ]	knive
[x]	knives

One "knife" but two "knives"

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The book is about the ....... of great composers.

[ ]	life
[ ]	lifes
[ ]	live
[x]	lives

"Life": lose the -fe and add -ves to form the plural

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The newborn ....... were just beginning their .......

[ ]	calf, lives
[ ]	calfs, lifes
[ ]	calves, life
[x]	calves, lives

Are you getting the hang of it yet?

10.

Select the correct spelling(s) for the missing word(s).
The ....... of each band of warriors held a meeting.

[ ]	chief
[x]	chiefs
[ ]	chieve
[ ]	chieves

"Chief" is an exception to the rule and just adds an s for its plural