Adding -ves or -s

Adding -ves or -s to words ending in -f or -fe

knife — knives, half — halves, roof —roofs, cliff — cliffs, chief — chiefs

The -f to -ves rule is an easy rule but with many exceptions that you need to learn.

The trouble with spelling rules is that there are always exceptions! It's good to know rules but you need to know the exceptions too.

Let's look at some common words with this rule and the exceptions.

Watch the video and/or read the information below. Then do the spelling test at the end.

1. Words ending in -ff you just add -s to make the plural:
cliff — cliffs, sniff — sniffs, whiff — whiffs, sheriff — sheriffs, tariff — tariffs
scuff — scuffs, huff — huffs, bluff — bluffs, cuff — cuffs
scoff — scoffs, toff — toffs

Or these would look strange with -ves (clifves x)

Some words ending in -f add -s:
roof — roofs, proof — proofs
chief — chiefs
oaf — oafs

2. There are other words ending in -f or -fe that change their plurals to -ves:
calf — calves
half — halves
knife — knives
leaf — leaves
loaf — loaves
life — lives
wife — wives
shelf — shelves
thief — thieves
yourself — yourselves
themselves

3. Some words can have both endings ves or s:
scarf — scarfs/scarves
dwarf — dwarfs / dwarves
wharf — wharfs / wharves
handkerchief — handkerchiefs / handkerchieves

Look at the difference between the noun and the verb in these words

noun: a belief — beliefs but verb: to believe and s/he/it believes

noun: half — halves but verb: to halve and s/he/it halves

noun: life — lives but verb: to live and She/He lives

noun: safe — safes but verb: to save and s/he/it saves

noun: thief — thieves but verb: to thieve and s/he/it thieves

noun: shelf — shelves but verb: to shelve and s/he/it shelves