What the song is about

Most English nouns form the plural by adding -s (one cat, two cats). This song is about the nouns that break that rule. It counts body parts, animals and people, and shows how the word changes, or stays the same, when there is more than one.

The irregular plurals in the song

The vowel changes:

  • foot → feet
  • tooth → teeth
  • goose → geese
  • man → men
  • woman → women (careful: women is pronounced /ˈwɪmɪn/, like "wimmin")
The word changes more:
  • mouse → mice
  • child → children
  • person → people
The word does not change at all:
  • one sheep, ten sheep
  • one fish, two fish
These words never take an "s". Two foots, two mouses, two childs and ten sheeps are all wrong.

Useful words and expressions

  • plural: more than one (the opposite is singular)
  • No "S" required: you don't need an "s"
  • go by: pass in front of you (two geese go by)
  • stay the same: not change
  • built to last: made to stay for a long time
  • again and again: many times
  • keep on dancing: don't stop dancing

Grammar

  • Singular vs. plural verbs: One mouse is small, two mice are fast. A singular noun takes is, and a plural noun takes are. People is plural, so we say people are, never people is.
  • Imperatives for rules: Don't add an "S", Listen to how the letters change!
  • Present continuous: They're flying high up in the sky, We're having a plural disco ball.

Lines bent for the rhyme

  • a mouth of teeth is said this way to rhyme with underneath. In normal English you would say a mouthful of teeth or a mouth full of teeth.
  • Higher than the tallest steeple is there to rhyme with people. It has no real meaning in the song.
  • a plural disco ball is a playful made-up phrase, not a real expression.
  • The song presents irregular plurals as a rule that's built to last, but they are really exceptions that you learn word by word.
  • Fish also has the plural fishes, which is used for different kinds of fish. For everyday use, fish is correct.