Fish or Fishes?

[alrha]

When is it gramatically correct to use "Fish" and when should one use "Fishes"?

 

[noodleman]

Fish can also be use for singular. I believe both are now considered gramatically correct for pural.

 

[nanoreefer22]

I dont think "Fishes" is a word

You wouldn't say I caught 20 fishes, would ya?

 

[noodleman]

I dont think "Fishes" is a word

You wouldn't say I caught 20 fishes, would ya?

The english lanuage is always changing and making up new words. The word "keyboard" wasn't a real term until the past decade.

 

[alrha]

might "fishes" be used like the word "peoples" such as "The many peoples of the world" meaning various groups of peaple.

 

[R32Brightliner]

Common English plural recognized form is fish. Fishes is used when referring to a group of different species of fish. This is how I remember the word being used...

 

[alrha]

Common English plural recognized form is fish. Fishes is used when referring to a group of different species of fish. This is how I remember the word being used...

that is what i thought, but would you say "there are many fishes in the sea"? sounds a little weird for some reason.

 

[aaron]

What about when you cross the mob and wind up "swimmin' with the fishes"

 

[noodleman]

interesting topic you started here

 

[R32Brightliner]

What about when you cross the mob and wind up "swimmin' with the fishes"

When the above happens, I think worrying about plural forms of words takes last priority

But for truth, I think with the above phrase, it's more of the flow of the words than for the correct grammar. Or, you could argue that if you're twenty something feet on the bottom of the ocean with concrete blocks tied to both feet that many different species of fish will pass you by. Hence "swimmin' with the fishes'. lol

 

[Sean]

might "fishes" be used like the word "peoples" such as "The many peoples of the world" meaning various groups of peaple.

Yes Fishes of the world is a correct term but you would not say 12 yellow tang fishes.
I just had this argument with a friend a few months ago. After weeks of research we found that most people don't use fishes because you could also use fish.

example
fishes of the world
fish of the world
both are correct

My theory is that in fear of using the terminology incorrectly people will use fish. They've been using fish now for so long that fishes is slowly getting fazed out. I don't know if this statement is true at all but when I was very young my teachers never taught me to use fishes at all as if the word didn't exist.

 

[alrha]

there are also people that dont realize fish is plural and always use fishes, so that should keep it alive.

 

[alrha]

interesting topic you started here

i am trying to maintain my controvercial reputation.

 

[House of Laughter]

Hmmm, wonder how many deers of the world there are?

fish ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fsh)
n. pl. fish or fish?es

 

[inkblue]

...i say fishies :usa1: :tongue1:

 

[Pseudo]

Fish is used as a plural in either statement of singular fish or to state more than one fish even when intonating to varieties of fish. Fishes is used to state the action of the word, Fish, fished, fishing, fishes (for a living). Adj..

Kasei

 

[Pseudo]

Fishees is an I Talian word

 

[DRZL]

BTW R32Brightliner nice avatar especially given the circumstances

 

[DRZL]

AINT AINT a word, same rule applies for me

 

[R32Brightliner]

BTW R32Brightliner nice avatar especially given the circumstances

Thanks DRZL. I give much respect to the older, heavier, more durable and eye-pleasing subway cars. The Brightliners with their blue doors and silver corrugated bodies (R32 series on the IND and BMT Lines) were one of my favorites. Hence the avitar and name...