Kind / Kinds

[jack]

Thanks.

What kind of fish do you have? (question implies that you either have only one fish, or more than one fish of the same kind)

What kinds of fish do you have? (implies that you have more than one kind of fish)

"Fish" and "fishes" can both serve as the plural of fish(s) and there is no difference in meaning between them whatsoever, although fish would probably be the more usual choice for the plural in contemporary English.


Chocolates are small individual portions of chocolate, around about one mouthful in size, sometimes with fillings, and often sold together in a pack within which there are often various kinds.

Chocolate is a bigger lump of the same material often sold in individually wrapped portions.

[jack]

Thanks.

[jack]

Are these correct? If not, why? What do they mean?

1. "Fish" and "fishes" can both serve as the plural of fish(s) and there is no difference in meaning between them whatsoever,
2. "Fish" and "fishes" can both serve as the plural of fish(s) and there is no difference in meaning between them or whatsoever,
3. "Fish" and "fishes" can both serve as the plural of fish(s) and there is no difference in meaning between them and whatsoever,

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by jack

Are these correct? If not, why? What do they mean?

1. "Fish" and "fishes" can both serve as the plural of fish(s) and there is no difference in meaning between them whatsoever,
2. "Fish" and "fishes" can both serve as the plural of fish(s) and there is no difference in meaning between them or whatsoever,
3. "Fish" and "fishes" can both serve as the plural of fish(s) and there is no difference in meaning between them and whatsoever,

1. is OK; 2. is not OK. 'or' is a conjunction: It joins two like units. 3. is not OK. 'and' is a conjunction: It joins two like units.

There is no difference whatsoever/at all/of any kind between them.

Note that, There is actually a difference between fish and fishes. Both are plural, but only the latter is used in reference to species of fish. :wink: That is, you wouldn't say to the fishmonger, "Those are nice fishes you got there." You'd say, "Fish." If it's the tropical fish dude, you could use, "What kinds of species of fish or fishes do you carries?" In short, the aquatic sciences use the term 'fishes', so unless you're dealing in species, "fish" is your best bet--if you use "fishes", some non-biologist is going to correct you. :wink:

[jack]

"Those are nice fishes you got there." You'd say, "Fish." If it's the tropical fish dude, you could use, "What kinds of species of fish or fishes do you carries?"

I would say this?
1. Those are nice fish you got there. (Isn't that incorrect? The subject doesn't agree with the verb?)

2. What kinds of species of fish or fishes do you carries? (Was this a typo? Is 'carries' supposed to be 'carry'?

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by jack

1. Those are nice fish you got there. (Isn't that incorrect? The subject doesn't agree with the verb?)

Huh? 'are' is plural and 'fish' is plural. :D The word 'fish' is like the word sheep: They have the exact same form in the singular and the plural:

Singular: I like your fish. What is its name?
Plural: I like your fish. What are their names?

'fish' doesn't take -s, ever, not even in the plural, unless that is, you're using it to refer to species of fish, and then -es is added, giving fishes.

Originally Posted by jack

Was this a typo? Is 'carries' supposed to be 'carry'?

Yes. Thank you for catching that. :D It's a typo.

[jack]

Thanks.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by jack

Thanks.

You're welcome, and thanks, too. :D :D

[jack]

kind of _______ (Singular Noun)
kinds of ______ (Plural Noun)

How come it doesn't work here?
1. What kind of friends do you have?
2. What kinds of friend do you have? (This doesn't make sense with that rule?)