0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Sardine (s), cod, plaice, sole - singular & plural

Why does sardine have a singular and plural, yet other species of fish don't?
  

Top answer

I'm never sure how to answer these "why" type questions. Because it is so. There is no body of people who say "This is a good idea" and "This is a bad idea" and thus it becomes the way English is spoken or written.

— BarbaraPA

  • I'm never sure how to answer these "why" type questions.
  • Because it is so.
  • There is no body of people who say "This is a good idea" and "This is a bad idea" and thus it becomes the way English is spoken or written.
  • By the way: Sharks Seahorses I don't think these all count as "fish" but they are all sealife: Clams and oysters Octopi Eels
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
I'm never sure how to answer these "why" type questions.

Because it is so. There is no body of people who say "This is a good idea" and "This is a bad idea" and thus it becomes the way English is spoken or written.

By the way:

Sharks

Seahorses

I don't think these all count as "fish" but they are all sealife:

Clams and oysters

Octopi
0
0
I see little difference:

sole
–noun, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.

cod
–noun, plural (especially collectively) -cod, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) -cods.

sardine
–noun, plural (especially collectively) -dine, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species)
0

Related Questions