Plural words don't make sense

[Canny McTin-Face]

Someone on YouTube called Cinemassacre did a video about this years ago. So i'll quote that video a lot. Anyways, when using a plural word here's the rule: If a word ends with a vowel, the word ends with an "-s". Apples, flowers, etc. If the word does not end with a vowel, it either ends with "-es" or "-ies". Simple, right? Well, NO. If there is more than one box it's called boxes, but if there are more than one ox it's called oxen. Why not "oxes"? What is te plural of fish? Fishes? Fishen? No! Fish is the plural of fish! Not mouses but mice, but house is houses? Not mans, but men?? Who made these up?? This is complicated. You know what, screw it, watch that video that i mentioned earlier instead. He did a better job than i did:
https://youtu.be/tBUzngDUOnk
The part where he talks about plural words starts at 1:42

[no u]

There are always exceptions to every rule in English. It’s just something you have to memorize.

[Canny McTin-Face]

Kokichi Ouma a écrit :

There are always exceptions to every rule in English. It’s just something you have to memorize.

Those exceptions should be consistent. If it's "men" instead of "mans", it should be called "pen" instead of "pans".

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Kokichi Ouma a écrit :

It’s just something you have to memorize.

[Sable]

The English language has way too many loanwords of various origins, and the grammar and spelling rules are inconsistent because of its hybrid nature.

Some people have suggested to reform the English language, but that will probably go over as well as bacon-flavored milkshake.

[Canny McTin-Face]

Sable a écrit :

The English language has way too many loanwords of various origins, and the grammar and spelling rules are inconsistent because of its hybrid nature.

Some people have suggested to reform the English language, but that will probably go over as well as bacon-flavored milkshake.

If that milkshake would be warm it wouldn't taste that bad. I mean, i wouldn't say to myself something like "I surely do want a bacon milkshake right now" but if it would be served to me i'd drink it.

[Sable]

CannyCanCan a écrit :

Sable a écrit :

The English language has way too many loanwords of various origins, and the grammar and spelling rules are inconsistent because of its hybrid nature.

Some people have suggested to reform the English language, but that will probably go over as well as bacon-flavored milkshake.

If that milkshake would be warm it wouldn't taste that bad. I mean, i wouldn't say to myself something like "I surely do want a bacon milkshake right now" but if it would be served to me i'd drink it.

It's the kind of thing that sounds good in concept but is horrible when executed lol

[Swarmfly]

Methinks thou doth protest too much. Mind thine English tongue not.

[Kruzible]

The Loopy Ouroboros a écrit :

Methinks thou doth protest too much. Mind thine English tongue not.

Thou art correct, whensfor thou ust not the 'American' tongue, but of thine early seed.

[chiefputsilao✖️ping]

a pair of pants is just one wearable....not two!

[El poco nuez del muerte]

CannyCanCan a écrit :

Who made these up??

Noone did. That is the the thing, language is not constructed, it develops. Those rules are discriptive, it's not like someone sat down and went "right, lets make rules and from now on that's how we do it".

People sat down and looked at the current state at the time and described the structures they found. And that is how you get those rules.

[vadim]

That is what you dream about. Easy and consistent language: http://ashvital.freeservers.com/ze_dream.htm

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

The Loopy Ouroboros a écrit :

Methinks thou doth protest too much. Mind thine English tongue not.

ToxicFiend a écrit :

The Loopy Ouroboros a écrit :

Methinks thou doth protest too much. Mind thine English tongue not.

Thou art correct, whensfor thou ust not the 'American' tongue, but of thine early seed.

That's some next-level English ♥♥♥♥ right there...

[tmwfte]

You want some houses for your mice?

[alicerinz]

*angry coot gibberish*

[Canny McTin-Face]

Do other languages have this stupid thing?