We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice; yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?
Then one may be that, and three would be those, yet hat in the plural would never be hose, and the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren, but though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, but imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim.
Brilliant blog! I'm gonna visit often and spread the word.. guess I'm a fan!
Well you're my first one. Thank you.
As a retired English teacher (and a retired professor of psych), I really really enjoy this blog. Count me as Fan #2.
Thanks, but I don't think English teachers ever really retire. 🙂
wow.. thanks
That is precise.
I'm gonna refer you as a Research source for an Article I'm doing bout the Pecularities of this strange bud woderfull language.
I think it's precisely these peculiarities that make English so wonderful. 🙂
Very interesting - the poem is actually called the English Language, and was written by my father J T O'Leary. I would be grateful if you could give him the credit for this.