Most of you might know that English is not my native language, but today my son asked a question I have also thought about before.
Are there rules about using the “plural” when I talk about birds. Like in the example: one Ibis, two Ibis, (instead of Ibises).
Are there other examples like this? If yes, can you let me know please?
M-L - a very good question, I have heard that English is very hard to learn as a 2nd language, I have done a Google search and believe that the best set of rules is found at www.firstschoolyears.com/literacy/word/other/plurals (sorry copy & paste not working),
Peter
I like 'Ibii' (and hence, Platypi)
But I doubt that is what the plural would be, sadly.
According to Oxford dictionary online, it is Ibises, which does seem a bit clumsy. According to Wikipedia, two archaic plurals are ibides and ibes.
But, hey, English makes no sense!
It's closely related to German, and yet happily switches structure around just to make everyones' life a misery! And the awful rules that aren't rules: I before e except after c except for sometimes.
So, sorry I can't give you any rules.
Fish is plural, not fishes (fishes is a verb I think, describing an action or doing word),. A fisherman fishes for a living.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
"Rules are for the guidance of wise people & the obedience of fools." Douglas Bader.
It's clear that English gives people licence to do whatever they like with the language. The evidence for this is in the tweets that are flying around the planet.
My thoughts for what they're worth is that the plural of Ibis would be Ibis. "A group of Ibis stood around..."
*shrug*
Very interesting analogies guys, I love them all.
I don’t have a general problem with “the plural” , or is it “plurals?” (just joking). The problem is, once I started questioning the issue of “birds and the plural thereof” , I was looking for more examples like the Ibis.
Let’s say , is it “one Quail and two Quail, or two Quails”?
Any other examples?
Peter, do you think English is hard? Try French and German , (I grew up speaking both), you have two genders in French, three in German, and all the endings of verbs and adjectives are determined by that. If you get them wrong, you are stuffed. (nice Australian word )
I’m loving this conversation, keep it going, I need some more education.
M-L
Hi Woko,
"Rules are for the guidance of wise people & the obedience of fools." Douglas Bader.
Thanks for posting this , had to google Douglas Bader. Will have to read a bit more about him, love this sentence
M-L
It's not just how you say it... but how you spell it as well. For example, How do you spell the plural for Hobby (Hobbies or Hobbys) because I think people tend to write Boobys instead of 'ies so people know that you're talking about birds.
I will get back to you... I have a very good book on litrature which includes collective names etc...
Brandon (aka ihewman)
Very funny Brandon
, some people would like to take up the "hobby of boobies"
(not a leagal one ,I would think? But you can take photos of hobbies)
Talk soon,
M-L
Same word and spelling, different punctuation - M-L's favorite bird- WRENS being multiple birds, or WREN's if referring to something the wren owns, example the WREN's nest.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
And if a pair of them borrow a nest, do the wrens rent the wrens' rental?
Peter