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Plural of Wolf
The Quick Answer
The plural of wolf is wolves.The Plural of Wolf
The plural of wolf is wolves.- If you live among wolves you have to act like a wolf.
(Nikita Khrushchev)
- An audience can be like a pack of wolves. (Paul Mooney)
Are You Good at Plurals?
Here's a quick test.The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals
The table below shows the standard rules for forming the plurals of nouns in English.Type | Example of Type | Forming the Plural | Plural |
---|---|---|---|
Most Nouns | ![]() ![]() |
add s | ![]() ![]() |
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z | ![]() ![]() |
add es | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [consonant] o | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
add either s or es (There are no rules for this - you have to know.) |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [vowel] o | ![]() ![]() |
add s | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [consonant] y | ![]() ![]() |
change the y to an i and add es | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [vowel] y | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
add s | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending f or fe | ![]() ![]() |
ves and/or s (There are no rules - you have to know.) |
![]() ![]() |
Exceptions | ![]() ![]() |
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change | ![]() ![]() |
More exceptions | ![]() ![]() |
some nouns do not change at all | ![]() ![]() |
Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Wolf?
There is confusion because the rule for forming the plurals of nouns ending f isn't straightforward. Most nouns will drop the f and gain a ves. For example:- Loaf becomes loaves.
- Leaf becomes leaves.
- Roof becomes roofs.
- Chief becomes chiefs.
- Scarf becomes scarfs or scarves.
- dwarf becomes dwarfs or dwarves.
Of note, the verb to wolf down means to eat something quickly. In the third person present tense, it becomes wolfs down.
Another Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from another exercise on plurals, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?