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Tinanam0102 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

fight or fights

Hi teachers,

Is it 'pick a fight' or 'picking fights' right?

Thanks
TN
  

Top answer

It depends on the situation. Either could work.

— Philip

  • It depends on the situation.
  • Either could work.
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7 Answers
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It depends on the situation. Either could work.
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Hi Philip,

My brother likes picking fights with his friends.

Do they mean the same thing?
Thanks
TN
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He likes picking fights.
He likes to pick fights.
You can't say He likes pick fights.
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Hi Blue Jay,

What about 'pick a fight'? I just found out it's an idiom, does it have the same meaning as pick fights?

Thanks.
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Placed in the earlier context, he likes to pick a fight and he likes to pick fights mean the same. In some contexts one version might be preferred over the other.
Don't pick a fight with him could be a single instance.
Don't pick fights with him suggests that this is something that happens frequently.
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"pick a fight" is likely to refer to a one-time situation
"pick fights" to at least several or can describe a general trait
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Thanks everyone for your help here.

TN
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