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 #2 (permalink) Thu Aug 13, 2009 14:50 pm Singular vs. plural: A girl - Many girls, A boy - Many boys, A sheep - Many sheep |
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Hi,
Some words don't change in the plural and 'sheep' is one of them. The explanation is that it is an exception. They are called 'zero' plurals - aircraft/fish/pheasant/deer/giraffe. As you can see from the last 4, they are often collections of animals.
Alan
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Alan
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Aug 13, 2009 21:14 pm Singular vs. plural: A girl - Many girls, A boy - Many boys, A sheep - Many s |
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| Alan wrote: |
Hi,
Some words don't change in the plural and 'sheep' is one of them. The explanation is that it is an exception. They are called 'zero' plurals - aircraft/fish/pheasant/deer/giraffe. As you can see from the last 4, they are often collections of animals.
Alan |
Pheasant and giraffe can be made plural, though, or at least they are in AmE.
I live in prime pheasant hunting country, where people come from all across the US to hunt pheasants. I personally have killed many pheasants, both with my gun, and unfortunately, the grill or windshield of my car.
Giraffes, however, are much rarer, and nobody hunts them here.
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 Skrej
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| #4 (permalink) Thu Aug 13, 2009 22:54 pm Singular vs. plural: A girl - Many girls, A boy - Many boys, A sheep - Many sheep |
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Hi,
Of course you can add an 's' to 'giraffe' and 'pheasant' if you want - you don't have to be American.
Alan
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| the preposition 'in' | What is the 'best title?' |
