Examples Help! Definition and Meaning of Irregular Nouns A noun is the name of any person, place or thing as John, London or book. Just add an 's' to make most words plural - examples: cats, dogs, girls, bats. Just when you think plural words are simple along comes the phrase 'irregular nouns'! What exactly does this mean? What is an irregular noun? Most English nouns are very predictable ( or regular ) in the spelling of the plural form - you just add an 's' or 'es' which make 'regular' plural words. But there are always exceptions to the rule and these are referred to a 'irregular plural nouns! The meaning or definition of an irregular noun is as follows:
Definition & Meaning
When irregular nouns change from their singular form to become plural, their spelling changes, in a different way to regular plural words, where cat, dog and book are made plural by adding a letter 's' - cats, dogs, books etc. But it would be incorrect English to add an 's' or 'es' to 'irregular' words.
The word 'mouse' changes to mice to indicate the plural The word 'cactus' changes to cacti The word scissors does not change at all to indicate the plural
It would be incorrect English to add an 's' or 'es' to these 'irregular' words.
The word 'diagnosis' changes to diagnoses Hippopotamus - hippopotami Louse - lice
The following list of examples of irregular nouns will make this definition even clearer:
Definition & Meaning
Examples Help! List of Irregular Nouns
This list of English examples will prove useful when learning about different parts of speech:
When Irregular Nouns become Plural
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
analysis
analyses
appendix
appendices
bison
bison
cactus
cacti
calf
calves
child
children
elf
elves
foot
feet
goose
geese
knife
knives
leaf
leaves
life
lives
loaf
loaves
man
men
mouse
mice
person
people
scissors
scissors
tooth
teeth
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
The Noun Game
Looking for a worksheet, test, exercises or quiz game to test your understanding? Check out your knowledge and understanding of the different types by playing the Noun Game!
Understanding the different types of nouns is not very difficult, but it is made daunting because of the seemingly complicated names! Just glancing through this page provides a fast overview of Irregular nouns. Remember that Irregular nouns are the words used to describe more than one item. Examples of Irregular nouns are beds, boys, girls, books and cats. They are created by adding a letter 's' to the end of a word or by adding 'es' such as in churches, boxes or witches.
English Grammar
What is a Irregular noun?
Parts of Speech
Understanding English Grammar
Meaning and Definition
Examples List
Definitions, list, types, samples and examples of different English Grammar
Test your knowledge and understanding irregular
English Grammar and irregular nouns
Definitions, list, types, samples and examples of different English Grammar
