Learn how certain nouns form plurals by changing -f or -fe to -ves (e.g., leaf → leaves, knife → knives). This table lists each singular word alongside its plural form and a simple meaning for clarity. Use it as a quick reference while studying spelling rules and building vocabulary.
| Singular | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| beef | beeves | cattle (butchery term/archaic) |
| calf | calves | young cow or bull |
| half | halves | one of two equal parts |
| housewife | housewives | married woman managing a household |
| knife | knives | cutting tool with a blade |
| leaf | leaves | flat green part of a plant |
| life | lives | existence; being alive |
| loaf | loaves | a shaped mass of bread |
| self | selves | a person’s own being |
| sheaf | sheaves | bundle of grain stalks |
| shelf | shelves | flat storage surface |
| thief | thieves | person who steals |
| wife | wives | married woman |
| wolf | wolves | wild carnivorous canine |
| elf | elves | small mythical being |
| dwarf | dwarves | very small mythical person (also “dwarfs”) |
| hoof | hooves | hard foot of a horse/deer (also “hoofs”) |
| scarf | scarves | neck or head covering |
| wharf | wharves | platform where ships load/unload |
| midwife | midwives | trained childbirth attendant |
