EXERCISE 2. NAME THE VERB IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.SAMPLE

8. Colleen is studying physics.

Nouns can be tricky, too. They change form depending on how they are used—as sin-

gular, plural, or possessive nouns. On the next page is a summary of the rules for forming

plurals of nouns.

^S

A. To most nouns: book—books. (See Rule 1, page 28.)

A–X. Exceptions to A:

man—men foot—feet mouse—mice

woman—women tooth—teeth goose—geese

child—children louse—lice ox—oxen

(See Rule 2 Exceptions, page 28.)

B. To most nouns ending in f: belief—beliefs. (See Rule 3, page 30.)

B–X. Exceptions to B:

leaf—leaves shelf—shelves

loaf—loaves thief—thieves

half—halves wolf—wolves

self—selves

C. To nouns ending in a vowel + y: way—ways. (See Rule 5, page 31.)

D. To nouns ending in a vowel + o: radio—radios. (See Rule 7, page 33.)

E. To most nouns ending in a consonant + o: auto—autos. (See Rule 8, page 33.)

E–X. Exceptions to E:

potato + es = potatoes echo + es = echoes

tomato + es = tomatoes veto + es = vetoes

F. To nouns ending in s: class + es = classes

sh: wish + es = wishes

ch: bench + es = benches

or x: box + es = boxes

(See Rule 2, page 28.)

G. When a noun ends in a consonant + y: lady—ladies. (See Rule 6, page 31.)

H. In the following three nouns ending in fe and their compounds:

knife—knives

life—lives

wife—wives

penknife—penknives

housewife—housewives

(See Rule 4, page 30.)