Redwing Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I have been boring everyone at work about the fact that I am planning to get some chickens in October. One of my collegues says that the plural of Chicken is.... Chicken and that we shouldnt say chickens as that isnt correct. Now.....he has an astronomical IQ and I trust his judgement on all work related matters but is he right? when you say 'I'd like to get 3 chicken' it just doesnt sound right....does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bokbokbok Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Methinks he is wrong: Had it been CHICKEN someone would have corrected us all by now when we were counting our chickenS before they hatched - surely? Also - I just asked my Dutch colleague and she has a far better grasp of the rules of English than I do. . . she says CHICKENS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 looking at defintion "3" there, I have to say that you learn something new every day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaR Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I think that you are correct. I found this online: Noun Singular chicken Plural countable and uncountable; chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 (edited) looking at defintion "3" there, I have to say that you learn something new every day! Comment removed by angels4. Upon reading comment, it wasn't relavent. Sorry for the mispost. Edited August 29, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 (edited) I understood that the only two words in modern usage whose plural is "en" are "Children" and Bretheren" **Edit** Make that three words, Was pondering on this and remembered "Oxen" Edited August 30, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 when you are talking about the plural of the living animal then it's a flock of CHICKENS but if you're talking about meat, then no matter how much meat you had you'd call it CHICKEN. He might have a high IQ but he doesn't know everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 looking at defintion "3" there, I have to say that you learn something new every day! That is funny !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Don't be Angels4, you taught me something I never knew before!! (I read your response before you deleted it!) What about Men, that ends in en and is plural...? English grammar.....never a favourite topic of mine. I was always in foreign language classes when they would say 'you use this tense exactly how you would in English' and I would have to ask for clarification! I still think the plural of goose should be gooses and sheep should be sheeps but that's purely because I enjoy using the incorrect plurals on purpose! Anyway back onto topic.....chickens, chickens, chickens, chickens! edited to correct typos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Thanks Looney! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 Thanks everyone! I will take great delight in sharing your comments with my colleague Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
