Teaching Irregular Words: Plurals and Past Tense

Written by: Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, Founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center
Originally Published: June 1, 2017 | Updated: August 27, 2026

“Two deers.” “I runned home.” If your child’s sentences sometimes sound a little off, you’re not imagining it, and it’s more common than you might think. Many kids naturally struggle to learn irregular plural nouns and irregular past tense verbs on their own, since these words break the grammar rules they’ve already learned. The good news is that with a little targeted practice, irregular words are very learnable.

Why Does My Child Say Things Like “Two Deers” or “I Runned Home”?

Believe it or not, these mistakes are actually a sign your child is learning grammar rules correctly. Once kids learn that adding “-s” makes a word plural and adding “-ed” makes a verb past tense, they naturally start applying those rules everywhere, including to words that don’t follow them.

Speech-language pathologists call this overregularization, and it’s a normal, even encouraging, stage of language development. The next step is simply teaching your child which words are the exceptions.

What Are Irregular Plural Nouns and Irregular Past Tense Verbs?

Irregular plural nouns don’t follow the standard “add -s” rule. Instead of “deers,” the correct plural is “deer.” Instead of “foots,” it’s “feet.”

Irregular past tense verbs don’t follow the standard “add -ed” rule either. Instead of “runned,” the correct past tense is “ran.” Instead of “goed,” it’s “went.”

Because these words don’t play by the rules, they have to be learned individually, usually through repeated exposure and practice.

Is This a Sign of a Language Problem?

Usually not. According to ASHA’s developmental milestones, using at least one irregular plural form, like “feet” or “men,” correctly is a typical milestone around ages 4-5, and kids continue refining irregular forms well beyond that as they’re exposed to more language. Occasional errors like “two deers” are a normal part of this process.

That said, if your child continues to make frequent grammar errors well past the early elementary years, or grammar difficulties are widespread and affecting how easily others understand them, it’s worth having their language skills evaluated.

How Can I Help My Child Learn Irregular Words?

Work through the lists below a little at a time. Focus on about 10 words at once, and make sure your child has them down before adding more.

• Use a carrier phrase for plurals: “One ___, two ___, many ___” (for example, “one tooth, two teeth, many teeth”)
• Use a carrier phrase for past tense verbs: “Today, I ___. Yesterday, I ___” (for example, “Today, I run to school. Yesterday, I ran to school.”)
• Model the correct form in conversation rather than correcting every mistake. If your child says “I runned home,” you might respond, “You ran home? That’s fast!”
• Keep practice short, playful, and low-pressure. A few minutes at a time works better than a long drill

Common Irregular Plural Nouns to Practice

Common Irregular Past Tense Verbs to Practice

When Should I Seek Help?

If your child is still making frequent irregular grammar errors well into elementary school, if grammar difficulties go beyond irregulars and affect overall sentence structure, or if others regularly have trouble understanding your child’s sentences, it’s a good time to have their language skills evaluated. Early, targeted support can make a real difference.

Have Fun with It!

Slowly work your way through these lists together, and celebrate the progress along the way. If you have questions about your child’s grammar or language development, contact our team at ETLC to learn more or schedule a free screening.