1.以f或fe结尾的词,多数直接加-s:
chief chiefs reef reefs
cliff cliffs cuff cuffs
roof roofs fife fifes
belief beliefs safe safes
gulf gulfs strife strifes
2.但有几个名词,需变f为v,再加es:
elf elves leaf leaves
calf calves thlef thleves
shelf shelves loaf loaves
half halves life lives
self selves wife wives
wolf wolves knife knives
3.有个别名词,可加-s或-ves:
hoof hoofs, hooves wharf wharfs, wharves
scarf scarfs, scarves dwarf dwarfs, dwarves
beef beefs, beeves staff staffs, staves
规则变化
1)一般情况加s
例如:map-maps boy-boys girl-girls pen-pens bag-bags car-cars
(清辅音后读/s/,浊辅音和元音后读/z/,/s/、/z/、/dʒ/等音后发/iz/)
2)以s, sh, ch, x结尾加es,读/iz/。
例如:bus-buses watch-watches box-boxes brush-brushes
3)以辅音字母+y结尾,变y为i再加es,读/iz/。
例如:baby---babies city-cities country-countries
4)以y结尾的专有名词或元音字母+y结尾的名词变复数时,直接加s,读/z/
例如:monkey---monkeysholiday---holidays Mary---Marys(专有名词)
5)以o结尾的词部分加s,部分加es。有生命加es 无生命加s 只是对部分词汇的记忆方法,不符合于所有以o结尾的词汇。
例如:potato - potatoes(土豆), echo - echoes(回声),zoo - zoos(动物园),bamboo - bamboos(竹子)
6)有些以f或fe结尾的,把f或fe变ve加s,例如:leaf-leaves shelf-shelves