0
Vincent Teo Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

fish / fishes

How do I explain the reason, why do we say, "fish" instead of "fishes"

Eg: There are many fish in the aquarium.
  

Top answer

It's just one of those funny irregularities in English Many words, such as deer, moose, and sheep, are spelled and pronounced the same way in both their singular and plural forms. Other interesting words with this property are congeries, kudos, premises, shrimp, bison, shambles, series, and species. Fish can be both singular and plural, yet fishes is also a correct pluralization of the word.

— AlpheccaStars

  • It's just one of those funny irregularities in English Many words, such as deer, moose, and sheep, are spelled and pronounced the same way in both their singular and plural forms.
  • Other interesting words with this property are congeries, kudos, premises, shrimp, bison, shambles, series, and species.
  • Fish can be both singular and plural, yet fishes is also a correct pluralization of the word.
  • Other irregular plurals originated in the highly inflected Old English: goose - geese mouse - mice ox - oxen tooth - teeth
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
It's just one of those funny irregularities in English

Many words, such as deer, moose, and sheep, are spelled and pronounced the same way in both their singular and plural forms.

Other interesting words with this property are congeries, kudos, premises, shrimp, bison, shambles, series, and species. Fish can be both singular and plural, yet fishes is also a correct pluralization
0
0
Vincent TeoHow do I explain the reason, why do we say, "fish" instead of "fishes"

Eg: There are many fish in the aquarium.

Use 'fishes' if you want to emphasize different types of fish; otherwise, use 'fish'.
0

Related Questions