|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/30/2009
Posts: 320
Points: 959
Location: Uruguay
|
Does anybody know why the plural of 'aircraft' is 'aircraft'? I learnt this just today and am pretty startled...
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too" - Voltaire
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/20/2009
Posts: 1,047
Points: 3,149
Location: United States
|
valenarwen wrote:Does anybody know why the plural of 'aircraft' is 'aircraft'? I learnt this just today and am pretty startled... That is a fun fact that I must try to work into a conversation today. The plural "aircraft" would be a collective noun. I always liked the German (Deutsch) rendition, Flugzeug, literally "flying thing". That is such an all-purpose term it could apply to aircraft, UFOs, or a MINI launched from a tribochet.
My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
- Benjamin Disraeli
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2009
Posts: 142
Points: 425
Location: Philippines
|
i just learned that today as well, maybe it's because "aircraft" refers to different kinds of
vehicle or device that is capable of flying. it may refer to helicopters, airplanes, etc.
My position concerning God is that of an agnostic. I am convinced that a vivid consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and ennoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who works on the basis of reward and punishment.-Albert Einstein
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/12/2009
Posts: 1,245
Points: 3,361
Location: America
|
The plural of aircraft is...aircraft. One aircraft or ten aircraft, same thing. If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose...meese?
DESIDERATA
"Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/30/2009
Posts: 320
Points: 959
Location: Uruguay
|
TB wrote:If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose...meese? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too" - Voltaire
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/12/2009
Posts: 1,245
Points: 3,361
Location: America
|
valenarwen wrote:TB wrote:If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose...meese? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?
and...if the plural of booth is booths, why isn't the plural of tooth...tooths?  I feel sorry for anyone trying to learn our goofy language.
DESIDERATA
"Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/13/2009
Posts: 358
Points: 1,079
Location: Canada
|
TB wrote:valenarwen wrote:TB wrote:If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose...meese? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?
and...if the plural of booth is booths, why isn't the plural of tooth...tooths? I feel sorry for anyone trying to learn our goofy language. Oh, it's not only your language. French is pretty damn hard for a non-native, and even for native speakers! I myself sometimes goofily pluralize words or put verbs in the past tense by inspiring myself from similar words/verbs. My latest piece of silly is for the word overheat, as in: Last night, my laptop overhote. My strangest one is for the verb "climb" though: Yesterday, I cloumb a hill to go somewhere. 
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 5/21/2009
Posts: 225
Points: 625
Location: United Kingdom
|
The plural of sheep is sheep so it has nothing to do with the ability to fly
I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong. Bertrand Russell
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/30/2009
Posts: 320
Points: 959
Location: Uruguay
|
JPK wrote:
Last night, my laptop overhote.
It could also have 'overhooted'... But you probably wouldn't sleep all night from it
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too" - Voltaire
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/12/2009
Posts: 1,245
Points: 3,361
Location: America
|
JPK wrote:TB wrote:valenarwen wrote:TB wrote:If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose...meese? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?
and...if the plural of booth is booths, why isn't the plural of tooth...tooths? I feel sorry for anyone trying to learn our goofy language. Oh, it's not only your language. French is pretty damn hard for a non-native, and even for native speakers! I myself sometimes goofily pluralize words or put verbs in the past tense by inspiring myself from similar words/verbs. My latest piece of silly is for the word overheat, as in: Last night, my laptop overhote. My strangest one is for the verb "climb" though: Yesterday, I cloumb a hill to go somewhere.
lol Hey hoser, did you get my response to your American beer comment? Take off, "A"  Just to muddy the waters even more...While is true that the plural of aircraft is aircraft, the plural of airplane is airplanes. 
DESIDERATA
"Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/8/2009
Posts: 1,032
Points: 3,042
Location: United States - Georgia
|
As an afterthought, what is the plural for the device used to move a cursor around on your computer screen?
2 mice?
2 mouses?
"Those who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamen Franklin
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/20/2009
Posts: 1,047
Points: 3,149
Location: United States
|
pedro wrote:The plural of sheep is sheep so it has nothing to do with the ability to fly If sheep could be made to fly, would they be sheepcraft? That is plural, isn't it?
My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
- Benjamin Disraeli
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/20/2009
Posts: 1,047
Points: 3,149
Location: United States
|
bugdoctor wrote:As an afterthought, what is the plural for the device used to move a cursor around on your computer screen?
2 mice?
2 mouses? For English-speaking Canadians, its moose, whether singular or plural.
My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
- Benjamin Disraeli
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/21/2009
Posts: 1,110
Points: 3,337
Location: Arizona, U.S.
|
JPK wrote:TB wrote:valenarwen wrote:TB wrote:If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose...meese? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?
and...if the plural of booth is booths, why isn't the plural of tooth...tooths? I feel sorry for anyone trying to learn our goofy language. Oh, it's not only your language. French is pretty damn hard for a non-native, and even for native speakers! I myself sometimes goofily pluralize words or put verbs in the past tense by inspiring myself from similar words/verbs. My latest piece of silly is for the word overheat, as in: Last night, my laptop overhote. My strangest one is for the verb "climb" though: Yesterday, I cloumb a hill to go somewhere.  Y'all are all hilarious. JPK, yours made me laugh the most. I hear it can be a really bad problem if your laptop gets overhoted.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/21/2009
Posts: 1,110
Points: 3,337
Location: Arizona, U.S.
|
early_apex wrote:pedro wrote:The plural of sheep is sheep so it has nothing to do with the ability to fly If sheep could be made to fly, would they be sheepcraft? That is plural, isn't it? It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 5/21/2009
Posts: 225
Points: 625
Location: United Kingdom
|
early_apex wrote:pedro wrote:The plural of sheep is sheep so it has nothing to do with the ability to fly If sheep could be made to fly, would they be sheepcraft? That is plural, isn't it? You can lead a sheep to a runway but you can't make it fly. You can make it run, however, but you can't make it score runs. I hope this clarifies matters.
I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong. Bertrand Russell
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2009
Posts: 142
Points: 425
Location: Philippines
|
pedro wrote:
The plural of sheep is sheep so it has nothing to do with the ability to fly
Well I think that should be another topic.
My position concerning God is that of an agnostic. I am convinced that a vivid consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and ennoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who works on the basis of reward and punishment.-Albert Einstein
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 9/21/2009
Posts: 487
Points: 1,460
Location: Helsinki, Finland
|
grammargeek wrote:early_apex wrote:
If sheep could be made to fly, would they be sheepcraft? That is plural, isn't it?
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep? Is it true that some of the low budget Airline Companies are using cheapcraft?
Mostly harmless
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/21/2009
Posts: 1,110
Points: 3,337
Location: Arizona, U.S.
|
Jyrkkä Jätkä wrote:grammargeek wrote:early_apex wrote:
If sheep could be made to fly, would they be sheepcraft? That is plural, isn't it?
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep? Is it true that some of the low budget Airline Companies are using cheapcraft? If they are, all I can say to that is b-a-a humbug!
BTW, are reindeer attached to a sleigh called aircraft?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/13/2009
Posts: 358
Points: 1,079
Location: Canada
|
grammargeek wrote: Y'all are all hilarious. JPK, yours made me laugh the most. I hear it can be a really bad problem if your laptop gets overhoted. I concur about the hilariousness of this thread. I particularly loved the sheepcraft and the moose! grammargeek: actually, reindeer carrying a sleigh is called antlercraft. On December 25 though, it is called SantaCraft(TM).
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/20/2009
Posts: 1,047
Points: 3,149
Location: United States
|
grammargeek wrote:
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep?
No. I count trebuchets.
My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
- Benjamin Disraeli
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/21/2009
Posts: 1,110
Points: 3,337
Location: Arizona, U.S.
|
early_apex wrote:grammargeek wrote:
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep?
No. I count trebuchets. I hope they are not flinging sheep.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/13/2009
Posts: 358
Points: 1,079
Location: Canada
|
grammargeek wrote:early_apex wrote:grammargeek wrote:
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep?
No. I count trebuchets. I hope they are not flinging sheep. Well, if they're sheepcraft, it's not an issue
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/21/2009
Posts: 1,110
Points: 3,337
Location: Arizona, U.S.
|
JPK wrote:grammargeek wrote:early_apex wrote:grammargeek wrote:
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep?
No. I count trebuchets. I hope they are not flinging sheep. Well, if they're sheepcraft, it's not an issue Very good point! That's what I like about you JPK; you're always thinking!
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/13/2009
Posts: 358
Points: 1,079
Location: Canada
|
grammargeek wrote:JPK wrote:grammargeek wrote:early_apex wrote:grammargeek wrote:
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep?
No. I count trebuchets. I hope they are not flinging sheep. Well, if they're sheepcraft, it's not an issue Very good point! That's what I like about you JPK; you're always thinking! I try to! But believe me, I'm not always thinking! :) p.s. I like you too, grammargeek! :)
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/12/2009
Posts: 1,245
Points: 3,361
Location: America
|
bugdoctor wrote:As an afterthought, what is the plural for the device used to move a cursor around on your computer screen?
2 mice?
2 mouses?
Re: "...the device used to move a cursor around on your computer screen" We have three mouses in our house.
DESIDERATA
"Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/20/2009
Posts: 1,047
Points: 3,149
Location: United States
|
pedro wrote:early_apex wrote:pedro wrote:The plural of sheep is sheep so it has nothing to do with the ability to fly If sheep could be made to fly, would they be sheepcraft? That is plural, isn't it? You can lead a sheep to a runway but you can't make it fly. You can make it run, however, but you can't make it score runs. I hope this clarifies matters. But will the sheep draw flies?
My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
- Benjamin Disraeli
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/13/2009
Posts: 358
Points: 1,079
Location: Canada
|
pedro wrote:You can make it run, however, but you can't make it score runs. I hope this clarifies matters. Can you make it play short-stop?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/12/2009
Posts: 1,245
Points: 3,361
Location: America
|
early_apex wrote: But will the sheep draw flies?
Well that's just silly, sheep don't have fingers so they can't draw.
DESIDERATA
"Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 9/21/2009
Posts: 487
Points: 1,460
Location: Helsinki, Finland
|
JPK wrote:
grammargeek: actually, reindeer carrying a sleigh is called antlercraft. On December 25 though, it is called SantaCraft(TM).
Santaviation has got its own navigation system in Rovaniemi Airport. 
Mostly harmless
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/21/2009
Posts: 1,110
Points: 3,337
Location: Arizona, U.S.
|
Jyrkkä Jätkä wrote:JPK wrote:
grammargeek: actually, reindeer carrying a sleigh is called antlercraft. On December 25 though, it is called SantaCraft(TM).
Santaviation has got its own navigation system in Rovaniemi Airport. Wow, I totally missed JPK's post the first time around! Another great one. And JJ, your addition of the Santaviation graphic is perfect! I wonder what TB would have to say about that form of air traffic control.
We don't see too many reindeer in these here parts. Every Dec. 24th-25th, though, I'm on the lookout for SantaCraft. Maybe the reason I've not seen that many reindeer is that I've been looking for love in all the wrong places. Now I know that I should be looking up instead of down. That way, I just may be able to spot the occasional antlercraft during the off season.
But here's a question. If I un-tether my antler-crafted chandelier from the ceiling and take it outside, will it become airborne?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/12/2009
Posts: 1,245
Points: 3,361
Location: America
|
grammargeek wrote:early_apex wrote:grammargeek wrote:
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a sheepcraft!
(Of course, I guess in this context, that would only be one flying sheep.)
EA, do you count sheepcraft when you are trying to fall asleep?
No. I count trebuchets. I hope they are not flinging sheep.
Everyone knows trebuchets are for flinging pumpkins, pianos and cars not sheep. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=559yuhpsd4Y&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wVADKznOhY
DESIDERATA
"Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/13/2009
Posts: 358
Points: 1,079
Location: Canada
|
Last afternoon, as I laid down for a short nap, I remembered the sheepcraft and couldn't suppress a big dumb smile :D
For that exact reason, I don't think it helps falling asleep though!
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/12/2009
Posts: 1,245
Points: 3,361
Location: America
|
grammargeek wrote:"... I wonder what TB would have to say about that form of air traffic control.
[/color]
That sign works better than ATC. They were always bugging me with altitude changes due to converging traffic when I was trying to sleep or watch movies on my lap-top. 
DESIDERATA
"Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/21/2009
Posts: 1,110
Points: 3,337
Location: Arizona, U.S.
|
TB wrote:grammargeek wrote:"... I wonder what TB would have to say about that form of air traffic control.
[/color]
Who needs ATC; they're a real pain? They were always bugging me with altitude changes due to converging traffic when I was trying to sleep or watch movies on my lap-top. Well...as long as your laptop didn't overhote! Ya know--like from some steamy hot movie.
And hey, when you were trying to fall asleep in the cockpit at 30,000 feet, did you start counting the other aircraft as they went by? More importantly, did you ever spot the elusive antlercraft?
|
|
|
Guest |