"What's the plural of shrimp?"

Which is Correct: Shrimp or Shrimps?

The plural form "shrimp" is the more commonly used and widely accepted form. It is used to refer to multiple shrimp collectively without adding an "s" at the end.

Other such nouns which do not change in the plural include moose, sheep, and trout.

For example, you might say, "We caught several shrimp during our fishing trip."

On the other hand, the plural form "shrimps" is less common but still considered acceptable. It is used when there is a need to emphasize or differentiate between different types or sizes of shrimp within a group. For instance, you might say, "We ordered both large and small shrimps for the party."

In general, using "shrimp" as the plural form is more widely recognized and considered standard. However, the use of "shrimps" is not incorrect and can be employed when there is a specific need to highlight individual variations or characteristics within a group of shrimp.

Is Shrimp a Countable or Uncountable Noun?

A countable noun refers to things that can be counted as separate items or individuals. They have both singular and plural forms. For example, "book" is countable, and you can have one book or multiple books.

On the other hand, an uncountable noun, also known as a mass noun, refers to things that are not considered individual items or cannot be counted as discrete units. They typically represent substances, concepts, or qualities.

Uncountable nouns do not have a plural form and are treated as a whole. Examples of uncountable nouns include "water," "knowledge," and "sugar."

When it comes to "shrimp," it is considered a countable noun. Although it may appear in its singular form when referring to an individual crustacean, it can also be used in its plural form when referring to multiple shrimp.

For instance, "I ate a shrimp" (singular) and "We had several shrimp for dinner" (plural).

It's worth noting that the distinction between countable and uncountable nouns can sometimes be blurred or context-dependent. However, in the case of "shrimp," it is generally treated as a countable noun with both singular and plural forms.

Collective Noun for a Group of Shrimp or Shrimps:

In the English language, a collective noun is used to refer to a collection or group of individuals or things. It represents a single entity made up of multiple members.

For shrimp or shrimps, the collective noun used to describe a group of these small crustaceans is a "school."

The term "school" is commonly associated with fish, but it is also used to describe a gathering of shrimp swimming together in their natural habitats.

Collective nouns are used to simplify language and express a collective group as a single entity. They are handy for describing the behavior, movement, or appearance of a group as a whole.

In the case of shrimp, you can say "a school of shrimp" to describe the cohesive movement of multiple shrimp swimming together.