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5 Resources for Teaching Irregular Plural Nouns & Irregular Verbs

Written by: Katie Palmer

If you look up “irregular” in the dictionary, you’ll find a definition something like this: “not conforming to the usual pattern”. Ok, so how do we teach students something that doesn’t follow the usual grammar patterns (like irregular plural nouns and verbs)? Keep reading for some tips that will make teaching irregular plural nouns and irregular verbs fun and easy in your second grade classroom!

Be sure to read all the way to the end for a list of our other posts in this “Teaching Grammar” blog series – dedicated to making teaching 2nd grade grammar fun and effective at the same time!

What are Irregular Plural Nouns?

Irregular plural nouns are nouns that do not get the traditional “s” ending to become plural. Instead, they may follow a new rule to become plural.

Spelling Rules for Plural Nouns

When a word ends with an f, change the f to a v and add es. Example: loaf-loaves
When a word ends with an fe, change the f to v and add an s at then end. Example: life-lives
If a word ends with an o, add an es to it. Example: potato-potatoes
Sometimes the vowels change to show a plural. Example: goose-geese
Some words seem to change completely in their plural form. Example: mouse-mice
Or, they might not change at all! For example: deer stays deer when plural (so does moose)

AND there are always exceptions to these rules! Wow! That can get confusing! Consider making an anchor chart like the one below for your students to reference.

anchor chart for teaching plural nouns in second grade

What are Irregular Verbs?

Students love learning about verbs because it usually involves some movement. And they usually catch on to past tense verbs pretty quickly. But what about irregular verbs? That is, verbs that don’t get the traditional “ed” ending when in past tense.

Examples of Irregular Past Tense Verbs

eat-ate

say-said

buy-bought

Once again, it might be helpful to make an anchor chart similar to the one below for students to reference!

anchor chart to help second graders understand how to make spelling changes to irregular past-tense verbs

Why teach irregular plurals and verbs?

It might seem like it would be easy to skip these concepts all together when teaching grammar. However, it is important for students to learn these words to become a thorough speaker, reader and writer. They will learn these words through speaking and listening as well as through grammar instruction.

5 Resources to Make Irregulars Easy to Understand

Alright, so where to start? What activities can a teacher use to aid in instruction?! Check out these fun and effective resources below!

1. Irregular Plural Nouns Video Lesson

This video provides a great and engaging overview. It’s a great place to start when it is time to introduce the concept of irregulars.

2. We Went Camping Video

This video simply introduces several irregular verbs through a story. Teachers could write them down before hand (the irregular verbs are shown in red in the video, so easy to find) on an anchor chart and discuss the verb tenses before or after the video.

3. 2nd Grade Literacy Centers

Our literacy centers bundle includes an Irregular Plural Nouns Puzzle AND an Irregular Verbs Bookshelf Puzzles game. The students will match a singular picture with its plural picture match, then write the plural noun.

irregular verbs and irregular plural nouns literacy centers for 2nd grade

Read more about the Literacy Centers (and try them for FREE) here: Free Literacy Centers

Shop them here: 2nd Grade Grammar & Literacy Centers

Download Centers HERE

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4. Grammar Day by Day

This resource can be used in so many ways! The teacher can pick and choose the order of concepts taught too! There is even a section that focuses on irregular plurals & verbs!