2006-07-04 05:31:53 · 14 answers · asked by happy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Actually it CAN be Both "fish" and "fishes" are proper plural forms, BUT they are NOT interchangeable.
"A group of fish of the same species are called fish. Two or more species of fish are called 'fishes'."
Actually, I believe it is ALWAYS correct to use "fish" for a plural, without regard to whether they are all of the same species or not. But "fishes" MUST refer to different species. (If you need to make a point of the fact that you are listing various species, use "fishes".)
Note that this is a more recent distinction. The KJV Bible (1611) speaks of "five loaves and two fishes" and is not referring to different species of fish.
2006-07-04 06:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, you can use fishes as plural form for fish..
"there are any fishes in the sea..."
"School of fish" is just its collective form..
2006-07-04 05:36:42 · answer #2 · answered by Black_Rabbit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you say fishes then you stress that different species of fish are being mentioned, if you say fish then it means one fish, 2 fish (the species are not meant)
2006-07-04 05:35:30 · answer #3 · answered by Like 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not indeed. Then we could make up a poem about fishes being like wishes that all swam away! Outstanding, thank you for this question.
2006-07-04 05:35:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what's called the complexity of a language. Every language has these complexities which no linguist can explain. They have always been said/written that way that it has become the rule.
2006-07-04 05:50:15 · answer #5 · answered by buxiii 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be fishes if it is used as a verb rather than a noun.
2006-07-04 05:35:49 · answer #6 · answered by karen wonderful 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because whoever created the English language and whoever modified it over the years is insane and likes to confuse people with many, many exceptions to the 'rules'.
2006-07-04 05:36:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Oh what the heck, use "fishes" if you want to! (However it does sound fishy) lol. OK that was silly. lol
2006-07-04 05:40:04 · answer #8 · answered by Zsa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol...its the same thing with the word moose. If it had a plural of it, it'd be meese...hehe
2006-07-04 05:36:07 · answer #9 · answered by r.d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
man, bruhaha,,, you are quite articulate. i went to your profile to see what other good answers you might've given, and i noticed that 57% of your answers are best answers. that's absurd!!! i'm sure you'll get this one too. good job, man!! and thanks for the clarification on fish vs. fishes.
2006-07-04 06:29:36 · answer #10 · answered by tobykeogh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋