fish like or likes...

[baraka]

Hi,

Could anyone tell me which sentence is correct?

Fish like fresh water.
or
Fish likes fresh water.



Thanks,
baraka

[Irushka]

likes

[baraka]

But it's uncountable like the word cattle. And we have to use plural after "cattle". Doesn't the same go for the word "fish"?

[Irushka]

But it is neuter gender singular number
fish = it
I think so

[Philly]

.
"Fish like fresh water." is correct.
.
Without an article, the word fish can only be understood as plural in this sentence!
.
Fish are countable. The word fish is a countable noun. The problem is that the singular and plural forms are the same:
- one fish
- two fish
.
This is how you could talk about one single fish for example:
.
A fish likes fresh water.
This fish likes fresh water.

[Irushka]

Sorry baraka,
thank You Philly

[baraka]

Thanks very much for both of your answers.


Now it's perfectly clear.

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks very much for both of your answers.


Now it's perfectly clear.

I'm glad it's clear. Now let me make it a little murkier for you.

The most common plural of the word "fish" is "fish". There is, however, the other plural "fishes". This one is normally used to distinguish between species of fish.

Many of the fishes in the Great Lakes have a high mercury content.

This means that many species (but not all species) of fish have the problem.

Many of the fish in the Great lakes have a high mercury content.

This does not refer to species but just to the number of fish involved.