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Is the plural of roof, roofs or rooves?

50 replies

overtherainbow · 19/06/2007 21:12

My DD(6) came home with her spellings today - she has to change the list of nouns into plurals. They are for example: elf, roof, branch, stitch. I thought 1 roof = roof, more than 1 = roofs. Am I wrong?

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bramblina · 19/06/2007 21:14

rooves
I think anything ending in f becomes ves. Like leaf, leaves.

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bramblina · 19/06/2007 21:14

elf, elves.

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bramblina · 19/06/2007 21:15

It's definitely rooves and elves but as for the rule, not sure if everything ends that way.

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ahundredtimes · 19/06/2007 21:16

Yes is roofs, pronounced rooves, but spelt roofs.

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slayerette · 19/06/2007 21:16

No, just checked in dictionary and it's roofs.

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slayerette · 19/06/2007 21:16

X-post, ahundredtimes!

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wombat2 · 19/06/2007 21:16

I thought it was roofs...

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Desiderata · 19/06/2007 21:17

That's a 'very' interesting question.

When I was young (a long time ago), the plural of roof was rooves.

And yet, I haven't seen it spelt like that for ages. I have actually seen 'roofs' being used in lots of children's books lately, and I'm wondering whether it's changed.

I suspect that both are applicable, but that the school will take 'a certain line' which, of course, will be the correct one

The OED is your only recourse!

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Pruners · 19/06/2007 21:17

Message withdrawn

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wombat2 · 19/06/2007 21:17

Same - much too slow!

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Pixiefish · 19/06/2007 21:17

roofs

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SenoraPostrophe · 19/06/2007 21:17

both are correct. I believe roofs is a more recent version though but it's def OK.

not all things that end in f have a v plural. proof > proofs etc

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NormaSnorks · 19/06/2007 21:17

NO! It's Roofs, but elves.

Check Dictionary.com if you're not convinced!

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CristinaTheAstonishing · 19/06/2007 21:18

roofs but wolves

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eucalyptus · 19/06/2007 21:18

I think roofs is the exception though?

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wheresthehamster · 19/06/2007 21:18

And yet hoof/hooves.

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SenoraPostrophe · 19/06/2007 21:18

dictiolnary.com is US though. think rooves might be the UK version.

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UCM · 19/06/2007 21:18

elves roofs branches stitches

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MorningtonCrescent · 19/06/2007 21:18

roofs

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SenoraPostrophe · 19/06/2007 21:19

chuff chuffs

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AttilaTheMum · 19/06/2007 21:20

Chamber's dictionary also says roofs. It was roofs when I was young too. (and I'm nearly 10 years older than Desi......)

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UCM · 19/06/2007 21:21

Roofs doesn't look right, I agree.

Will consult the Oxford Wordfinder

it says

pl. roofs or disp. rooves

So what the fuck does disp. mean??

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Pruners · 19/06/2007 21:21

Message withdrawn

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Pruners · 19/06/2007 21:21

Message withdrawn

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wheresthehamster · 19/06/2007 21:22

Debated here

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