alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

26 ENGLISH GRAl\IMAR.
143. Exceptions.-Dwarf, scarf, reef; brief, chief, grief; kerchief, hand·
kerchief, mischief; gulf, turf, surf; safe, fife, strife; proof, hoof, reproof,
follow the general rule. Also nouns in ff have their plural in s; a~, muff,
muffs; except staff, plural stal'cs; but its comp"unds are regular; as,jlag'
staff, jlagstaffs; wharf has either wharfs or u-harl'es.
EXERCISES.
1. Give the plural of the following nouns, and the rule for forming it;
thus, Fox, plural, foxes. Rule-Nouns in s, sh, ell soft, Z, x, or 0, form
the plural by adding es. Or, more briefly; Nouns in x form thc plural by
adding es.
Fox, book, leaf, candle, hat, loaf, wish, fish, sex, box, coach,
inch, sky, bounty, army, duty, knife, echo, loss, cargo, wife,
story, church, table, glass, study, calf, branch, street, potato,
peach, sheaf, booby, rock, stone, house, glory, hope, flower, city,
difficulty, distress, wolf.
Day, bay, relay, chimney, journey, valley, needle, enemy,
army, vale, ant, valley, hill, sea, key, toy, monarch, tyro, grotto,
nuncio, punt!tilio, embryo, gulf, handkerchief, hoof, staff, Illuff,
cliff, whiff, cuft: ruff, reef, safe, wharf, fief.
2. OJ what number is-Book, trees, plant, 8hrub, globes,
planets, toys, home, fancy, mosses, glass, state, foxes, houses,
prints, spoon, bears, lilies, roses, churches, glove, silk, skies,
hill, river, scenes, stars, berries, peach, porch, glass, pitcher,
valleys, mountain, cameos?
3. Take six of the above worde, and say somctbin" respectinO' each;
first in the singular, and then in the plural. " "
NOUNS IRREGULA.R IN THE PLURAL.
144. Some nouns are irregular in the formation of tbeir plural; sucb
as-
Singular.
Plural.
Singular.
Plural.
Man
men
'.rooth
teeth
Woman
women
Goose
geese
Child
children
Mouse
mice
Foot
feet
Louse
lice
Ox oxen Cow formerly kine
but now regular, cows
145. Some nouns have both a regular and an irregular furm of the plu.
ral, but with different significatiolls; as-