Nouns

[justham]

what is the plural of the following nouns
1.Fox
2.Nurse
3.Ethics
4.Salmon

[BobK]

Originally Posted by justham

what is the plural of the following nouns
1.Fox
2.Nurse
3.Ethics
4.Salmon

2 or more foxes
2 or more nurses
Ethics has no plural. To refer to 2 or more ethical systems, you do what I've just done; did you notice?
2 or more salmon; they inherit the same (null) plural that 'fish' has in most contexts. (It's interesting that some fish don't: '2 mackerel' but '2 sardines', '2 cod' but '2 pilchards'; I don't know why this is, but hope someone will.)

b

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by BobK

2 or more foxes
2 or more nurses
Ethics has no plural. To refer to 2 or more ethical systems, you do what I've just done; did you notice?
2 or more salmon; they inherit the same (null) plural that 'fish' has in most contexts. (It's interesting that some fish don't: '2 mackerel' but '2 sardines', '2 cod' but '2 pilchards'; I don't know why this is, but hope someone will.)

b

But of course if you are in a restaurant you would say: two fishes please.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by justham

what is the plural of the following nouns
1.Fox
2.Nurse
3.Ethics
4.Salmon

I agree with BobK, but "fox" is also a plural of "fox".

[BobK]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

I agree with BobK, but "fox" is also a plural of "fox".

Is that so. I've heard the null plural when there is a pair (or 'brace') of something - 'a brace of pheasant', 'a pair of trout', (but not *'a pair of kipper' Why's that - perhaps because it's only one herring). And of course, there's the 'indiscriminate' plural, when they don't care how many they get: 'they're going to hunt fox'/ 'they're going to shoot deer'. But 'A family of foxes live in our garden'.

I hadn't realized how complicated plurals can get - especially in the field of animals.

b

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by BobK

Is that so. I've heard the null plural when there is a pair (or 'brace') of something - 'a brace of pheasant', 'a pair of trout', (but not *'a pair of kipper' Why's that - perhaps because it's only one herring). And of course, there's the 'indiscriminate' plural, when they don't care how many they get: 'they're going to hunt fox'/ 'they're going to shoot deer'. But 'A family of foxes live in our garden'.

I hadn't realized how complicated plurals can get - especially in the field of animals.

b

Well, we sure can make it complicated.

[Rincewind]

Game animals - that is animals that are hunted - have null plurals. For example: fox, dear, pheasant, grouse, salmon, trout. Other animals, or animals, that are not game, can have the 's' or 'es' ending. Of course, all animals can be game. So for example, "The hunter caught two elephant and three lion." is correct and "The tourist saw two elephants and three lions." is also correct. The form of the plural changes with the context.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Rincewind

Game animals - that is animals that are hunted - have null plurals. For example: fox, dear, pheasant, grouse, salmon, trout. Other animals, or animals, that are not game, can have the 's' or 'es' ending. Of course, all animals can be game. So for example, "The hunter caught two elephant and three lion." is correct and "The tourist saw two elephants and three lions." is also correct. The form of the plural changes with the context.

I've never seen plural "elephant" or "lion".

[Mariner]

I'm not sure about elephant but I've definately seen some lion.

EDIT: used as plural, I mean. Same way as "I got some fish yesterday"

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Mariner

I'm not sure about elephant but I've definately seen some lion.

EDIT: used as plural, I mean. Same way as "I got some fish yesterday"

If I saw that I would probably assume it meant a non-sepecific lion.