Grade 4 · List 3 of 5 · 36 words

Special plurals

f becomes v before -es; some plurals change the word. A free 4th grade spelling list: hear each word, print a practice sheet, or take the test.

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The words

  • leaves
  • wolves
  • mice
  • children
  • calves
  • halves
  • shelves
  • loaves
  • scarves
  • geese
  • teeth
  • oxen
  • elves
  • hooves
  • thieves
  • lives
  • wives
  • ourselves
  • themselves
  • yourselves
  • tomatoes
  • heroes
  • echoes
  • volcanoes
  • mosquitoes
  • moose
  • fungi
  • grandchildren
  • fishermen
  • gentlemen
  • bison
  • salmon
  • roofs

Tricky words to learn by heart

These come up alongside this pattern but don't follow it.

  • question
  • important
  • remember

In a sentence

  • leaves: The green leaves dance in the forest breeze.
  • wolves: Three friendly wolves howled happily under the silver moon.
  • mice: The tiny mice nibbled cheese in the castle kitchen.
  • children: Many children ran through the meadow to see the dragon.
  • calves: The little calves followed their mother across the green hills.
  • halves: The wizard cut the magic apple into two equal halves.

Mistakes to watch for

For grown-ups helping at home: these are the kinds of slips this pattern tends to bring.

WordOften written as
leavesleeves, leavs
wolveswulves, wolfs
micemise, maice
childrenchilren, childrin
calvescalvs, kalves

Take the Special plurals spelling test

10 words, read aloud. No sign-up, no timer, and nothing is saved.

FOR GROWN-UPS

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A sample practice sheet for a hero named BraveOtter42, with the letters ai and ou blanked out of words and sentences to fill in.
Sample practice sheet
A sample certificate of mastery for BraveOtter42, for the spelling of ai and ay.
Sample certificate
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