Examples:
- wharf, wharves;
- wife, wives;
- shelf, shelves;
- wolf, wolves;
- thief, thieves;
- knife, knives;
- half, halves;
- calf, calves;
- life, lives;
- self, selves;
- sheaf, sheaves;
- loaf, loaves;
- leaf, leaves;
- elf, elves;
- beef, beeves.
74. A few nouns form their plural in en.
These are:
- ox, oxen;
- brother, brethren (or brothers);
- child, children.
Note. Ancient or poetical plurals belonging to this class are: eyne (for eyen, from eye), kine (cows), shoon (shoes), hosen (hose).
75. A few nouns form their plural by a change of vowel.
These are:
- man, men;
- woman, women;
- merman, mermen;
- foot, feet;
- tooth, teeth;
- goose, geese;
- mouse, mice;
- louse, lice.
- fireman, firemen;
- saleswoman, saleswomen;
- Dutchman, Dutchmen.