What Are the Plurals of ‘Ox’ and ‘Fox’? Why ‘Oxen’ and ‘Foxes’?

By Jacob Harrison

In English plural forms of words show when there is more than one thing. The word “ox” changes to “oxen” in the plural which is an irregular plural. On the other hand “fox” becomes “foxes” following the usual rule of adding es.

These two words, ox” and fox, are examples of how English grammar rules work. “Oxen” is an old-fashioned plural while “foxes” is more regular. Understanding these irregular plurals helps us see the history and pattern of the English language.

Singular Forms: Ox and Fox

The singular form of the word for a strong animal in the cow family is “ox.” An ox is often used for work like pulling carts. It is a single animal not many. The word “ox” refers to just one.

The singular form of the word for a clever animal in the canine family is “fox.” A fox is known for being smart and quick. It is one animal not more than one. The word “fox” is used when talking about just one of these animals.

Plural Forms: Oxen and Foxes

The plural form of “ox” is “oxen.” This word is special because it doesn’t follow the usual rule. For “fox,” the plural form is “foxes.” We add “es” to make it plural. These are the plural forms of both animals.

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Oxen:

Oxen are strong animals from the cow family. They are often used for work, like pulling heavy loads. The plural form of “ox” is “oxen.” This word is different because it doesn’t follow the usual plural form rules in English.

Foxes:

Foxes are clever animals from the canine family. They are known for their quick movements and smart behavior. The plural form of “fox” is “foxes.” To make it plural we add “es.” This is the regular way to form plurals in English.

Comparing Plurals:

When we compare plurals, we see differences. The plural form of “ox” is “oxen,” which is special and old-fashioned. The plural form of “fox” is “foxes” which follows the regular rule of adding “es” to make a word plural.

SingularPlural
OxOxen
FoxFoxes

Why ‘Foxes’ for ‘Fox’ and ‘Oxen’ for ‘Ox’?

The word “foxes” is the plural form of “fox.” We add “es” to make it plural. This is a simple rule in English. Many words follow this rule, which makes the language easier to understand.

The word “oxen” is the plural form of “ox.” This word is different because it comes from old English. Long ago, the word “ox” had a special plural form. We still use “oxen” today even though it’s not the usual way to make a word plural.

FAQ’s

What is the plural of “ox”? 

The plural form of “ox” is “oxen.”It follows an old rule in English.

What is the plural of “fox”?

The plural form of “fox” is foxes. We add “es”to make it plural.

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Why is “oxen” used instead of “oxes”? 

“Oxen”is an irregular plural that comes from old English rules.

Why is “foxes” used for “fox”?

Foxes follows the regular rule. We add “es”to form the plural.

What is the rule for making most nouns plural? 

Most words form the plural by adding “s” or “es” to the singular word.

Are “oxen” and “foxes” the only irregular plurals? 

No there are many other irregular pluralsin English like “children” and “mice.”

Conclusion

The plural forms of words like “ox” and “fox” shows us how English works. The word “ox” becomes “oxen” in the plural, which is an irregular plural. This is because old English had special rules for some words. On the other hand, “fox” follows the regular rule of adding “es” to make “foxes.”

These differences help us see the history of the English language. “Oxen” keeps an old tradition alive, while “foxes” follows the common way to form plurals. Learning about these words is fun because it shows how language changes over time.

When we study plurals, we see the patterns and exceptions in English. Whether we say oxen” or “foxes,” both forms help us talk about more than one animal. This makes English an interesting language to learn and explore.

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