Plural of “Sheep” (Grammar + Examples)

What is the plural of the word “sheep?” When I want to show possession of the word, where do I add an apostrophe? Or does an apostrophe get added at all? Showing ownership, possession, and plural forms of some words can get confusing.

For example, words ending in -s, -ch, -sh, -x, or -z often receive a -es as part of their affix to make them into plural possessive nouns or the plural form of the base word. Let’s learn how to turn a proper noun into a possessive noun.

What is the plural of “sheep?”

The plural form of the word “sheep” is “sheep.”

Sentence examples of the plural of “sheep”

• There were multiple sheep that entered my home.
• I needed to go out into the field to tend to the sheep.
• How many sheep do you have?

Sentence examples of the singular noun form of “sheep”

• I have one sheep.
• The sheep ran down the street.
• The sheep was jumping over the house.

Why is it not sheeps?

While some words that end in -s have an apostrophe at the end. Or get changed to a form like, “sheepes,” these are considered incorrect. And are not words in the English language.

The correct plural form of the word “sheep” is simply, “sheep.” We can refer to multiple sheep using the same base word. It is considered an exception to the standard pluralization rules in English grammar.

Understanding plural nouns (grammar rules)

Here are the simple grammar rules to follow when learning how to convert words to their plural form:

Words that end in -es

Any word that ends in -s will get a -es added as the affix to convert the word into the plural form. For example, “bus” turns into “buses.”

Words that end in -f or -fe

A word that ends in -f or -fe will have the “f” letter turn to a “v” and add a -es affix. For example, “leaf” and “leaves.”

Words that end in vowel + o

Words that end in a vowel + o, like “zoo,” receive a -s affix. For example, “radio” turns into “radios.”

Words that end in vowel + y

A word that end in a vowel + y, like “city,” gets the “y” letter removed and adds a -ies affix. For example, “baby” turns into “babies.”