Test your knowledge of irregular plural nouns with this short quiz. Each sentence below has a singular noun in brackets. Replace this noun with its correct plural form to successfully complete the sentence. Keep in mind that irregular plural nouns in English can take many forms. Some of these nouns follow alternate pluralization rules. Other nouns are identical in both singular and plural forms. Still other nouns have completely unique singular and plural forms.

 

Answers and explanations can be found at the end of the quiz. If you need more help with irregular plural nouns or any other aspect of the English language, contact the English Island in Atlanta. Our passionate, dedicated ESL teachers can craft a course that is tailored to your individual needs.

 

1. Please complete the revisions to the ACT and SAT [syllabus] no later than Saturday.

 

2. A gust of wind blew the freshly-raked pile of [leaf] all over Erin’s yard.

 

3. Two [tornado] touched down in the Metro Atlanta area yesterday.

 

4. Watch out for [deer] on your drive home. They often run across the side roads at night.

 

5. Don’t take it personally if Ken snaps at you. He has had to deal with several family [crisis] over the last month.

 

6. [Family] with small children are welcome in our restaurant.

 

7. I had to make a substitution to the recipe because I ran out of [tomato].

 

8. Remember to brush your [tooth] before bed.

 

9. My alma mater always invites successful [alumnus] to speak at commencement.

 

10. Try to arrive early if you can. If you get there right at 3:30, you will have to wait for the school [bus] to leave before you can park.

 

11. The homeowners’ association will begin repairing the cracked [patio] next week.

 

12. Cows have four [stomach].

 

13. Would you be interested in one of the [bureau] we inherited from my grandmother? We simply don’t have space for them.

 

14. Leslie Nielsen was best known for acting in [spoof] of popular movies.

 

15. Do you think three [pizza] will be enough? We have a lot of people coming to the party.

 

Answers and explanations:

 

1. Answer: syllabuses OR syllabi

Explanation: Most nouns of Latin origin can follow either English or Latin pluralization rules.

 

2. Answer: leaves

Explanation: Nouns ending in –f or –fe preceded by consonant or a single vowel change to –ves in the plural.

 

3. Answer: tornados OR tornadoes

Explanation: Some words ending in –o can take either ­–o or –oes in the plural

 

4. Answer: deer

Explanation: Some nouns do not change from the singular to the plural.

 

5. Answer: crises

Explanation: Nouns of Greek origin drop it the –is from the singular and add –es to form the plural.

 

6. Answer: families

Explanation: Nouns ending in “consonant + –y” drop the ­–y and add –ies in the plural form.

 

7. Answer: tomatoes

Explanation: Some nouns ending in –o change to –oes in their plural forms.

 

8. Answer: teeth

Explanation: Several English nouns change vowel sounds in their plural forms.

 

9. Answer: alumni

Explanation: A handful of Latin nouns can take Latin plurals only.

 

10. Answer: buses

Explanation: When a noun ends in –ch, –s, –sh, –c, or –z, add –es to form the plural.

 

11. Answer: patios

Explanation: Some nouns ending in –o simply take –s in their plural forms.

 

12. Answer: stomachs

Explanation: When the –ch ending of a noun is pronounced as a hard “K,” just add –s to form the plural

 

13. Answer: bureaus OR bureaux

Explanation: Most nouns of French origin that end in –eau can take either a –s or an –x in the plural.

 

 

14. Answer: spoofs

Explanation: When a noun ending in –f /–fe is preceded by two consecutive vowels, just add –s to form the plural.

 

15. Answer: pizzas

Explanation: Most nouns of Italian origin discard their Italian plurals in favor of English ones.