Question

When should the ves ending be added to form plural nouns?<br />

A. When the noun ends in a vowel and y<br />
B. When the noun ends in a consonant and y<br />
C. When the noun ends in s<br />
D. When the noun ends in f or fe

Answer 1

D is the correct answer. The -ves ending is the plural form of many nouns ending in -f or -fe (though not all, for example ‘roofs’). Such examples are ‘knives’ and ‘loaves’. This is a remnant of Old English case marking that has been lost in the majority of modern day English.