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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
elk vs elks
Hi,
(1) I am having problems "interpreting" what is written in this entry:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elk.
The dictionary first says the plural form is "elks" ... but then points out that the usual plural form is "elk"...
(2) Would it be correct to say that the prural forms "elk", "shrimp", "cod", "squid" are used , by far, more frequently than "elks", "shrimps", "cods", "squids" etc. in AE?
(3) Are there "special" cases where it would be "more natural" for a native speaker to use, say, "two fishes", not "two fish"?
(4) How can I tell nouns with a unique plural form (e.g. "sheep", "moose") from nouns with two alternative plural forms (e.g., shrimp - shrimps)?
Could somebody please point me to a link that I can get the required information (=noun lists ... hopefully full enough.... not just a few examples) from?
mus-te
(1) I am having problems "interpreting" what is written in this entry:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elk.
The dictionary first says the plural form is "elks" ... but then points out that the usual plural form is "elk"...
(2) Would it be correct to say that the prural forms "elk", "shrimp", "cod", "squid" are used , by far, more frequently than "elks", "shrimps", "cods", "squids" etc. in AE?
(3) Are there "special" cases where it would be "more natural" for a native speaker to use, say, "two fishes", not "two fish"?
(4) How can I tell nouns with a unique plural form (e.g. "sheep", "moose") from nouns with two alternative plural forms (e.g., shrimp - shrimps)?
Could somebody please point me to a link that I can get the required information (=noun lists ... hopefully full enough.... not just a few examples) from?
mus-te
Top answer
Anonymous (2) Would it be correct to say that the prural forms "elk", "shrimp", "cod", "squid" are used , by far, more frequently than "elks", "shrimps", "cods", "squids" etc. in AE? Yes.
- Anonymous (2) Would it be correct to say that the prural forms "elk", "shrimp", "cod", "squid" are used , by far, more frequently than "elks", "shrimps", "cods", "squids" etc.
- in AE?
- Yes.
- Anonymous (3) Are there "special" cases where it would be "more natural" for a native speaker to use, say, "two fishes", not "two fish"?
- When we are discussing various species in a scientific context.
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1 Answers
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Anonymous(2) Would it be correct to say that the prural forms "elk", "shrimp", "cod", "squid" are used , by far, more frequently than "elks", "shrimps", "cods", "squids" etc. in AE?Yes.
Anonymous(3) Are there "special" cases where it would be "more natural" for a native speaker to use, say, "two fishes", not "two fish"?Whe
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