Fish

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

When talking about more than one fish in English you use ''are'' but you don't change the word fish into fishes. Am I right?

1.There is a white and a brown fish. Is not are must be used. One fish.

2.There are different brown and white fish in the tank. More than one.

If I am talking about a variety of fish in my tank then using fishes is not wrong, is it?

3.There are different brown and white fishes in the tank.

 

[GoesStation]

I'd use the irregular plural fish in number 3. "Fishes" is rarely used in American English.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


Hi, Ms. Adams:

According to the 1993 Columbia Guide to Standard American English, the word "fishes" is (a) archaic (as in Biblical use) or (b) used by biologists to distinguish various kinds of fish.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello.

When talking about more than one fish in English you use ''are'' but you don't change the word fish into fishes. Am I right?

Yes, you're right.

1.There are a white and a brown fish. That's two fish. If you mean one white and brown fish, don't put a before brown.

2.There are different brown and white fish in the tank. More than one. Yes.

If I am talking about a variety of fish in my tank then using fishes is not wrong, is it? It's wrong.

3.There are different brown and white fish in the tank.

In ordinary conversation, fishes is always a verb: She fishes every Sunday.

 

[Rover_KE]

You never need to say/write 'fishes' (the noun), Rachel.

On the very rare occasions when somebody might consider 'fishes' to be preferable, 'fish' will still be acceptable.

 

[Rover_KE]

You should know, Piscean.;-)