What’s the Plural of Ox?
The word ox refers to a large domesticated bovine animal, often used for pulling heavy loads or plowing fields. Oxen have been integral to agriculture throughout history, and the word ox itself has an ancient origin. But what if you need to refer to more than one ox? Is it oxes or something else?
The plural of ox is oxen, which might surprise some English learners because it doesn’t follow the common rule for forming plurals by adding -s or -es. In this article, we’ll explore why the plural of ox is oxen, its historical roots, examples of usage in sentences, and answers to common questions about this word. We’ll also provide practice questions to help solidify your understanding.
Table of Contents
What Is the Plural of “Ox”?
The correct plural form of ox is oxen. This peculiar plural form comes from Old English and is one of the few surviving examples of an older way of forming plurals in English.
Why Is the Plural “Oxen”?
In Old English, many nouns followed a pattern where their plural forms ended in -en instead of the modern -s or -es. Over time, most of these plurals were replaced by the more familiar -s or -es endings. However, a few words, like ox, have retained their original plural form.
Other words that once had -en plurals but have since become obsolete include eyen (for the plural of eye) and housen (for the plural of house). Today, oxen is one of the few words that still uses this ancient pluralization rule.
Is “Oxes” Ever Correct?
No, oxes is not correct. While it might seem logical to form the plural of ox by adding an -es, following the regular pattern of many English nouns, this is incorrect. The correct plural is always oxen.
In standard English, oxes is considered a grammatical error.
Historical Context: Why Oxen?
The word ox comes from Old English oxa, and the plural form oxan (which later became oxen) followed a Germanic pluralization pattern. During the Old English period (circa 500–1100 AD), many nouns formed their plurals with an -en ending. This pattern was common for certain classes of nouns.
Over time, as the English language evolved, most plural forms shifted to the -s or -es ending that we recognize today. However, some words—like ox and child (plural: children)—retained their older plural forms. These words are remnants of a bygone era in the English language.
Examples of “Ox” and “Oxen” in Sentences
Let’s look at some examples of ox and oxen to clarify their correct usage in both singular and plural contexts.
Singular Form of “Ox”:
- The farmer bought a strong ox to help plow the fields.
(Ox refers to a single animal.) - The ox is known for its strength and endurance.
(Here, ox is used to refer to one animal in a general sense.) - The village relied on one ox to carry heavy loads.
(This sentence refers to a single ox used for work.)
Plural Form “Oxen”:
- The farmer’s field was plowed by a team of oxen.
(Here, oxen refers to more than one ox working together.) - In ancient times, oxen were commonly used to pull carts and wagons.
(This sentence talks about the historical use of multiple oxen.) - Two oxen were yoked together to pull the heavy plow.
(This example shows oxen being used to refer to two animals working as a team.)
Common Questions About “Ox” and Its Plural
Let’s address some frequently asked questions to clear up any confusion about the pluralization and usage of ox and oxen.
Question 1:
Why is the plural of “ox” not “oxes”?
Answer:
The plural of ox is not oxes because oxen follows an Old English pluralization rule that predates the modern English -s or -es ending for plurals. In Old English, many words formed their plural with -en, and oxen is one of the few surviving examples of this pattern. As the English language evolved, most plurals shifted to the -s or -es form, but oxen remained unchanged.
Question 2:
Are there other words that follow the same pluralization pattern as “ox”?
Answer:
Yes, although there are very few words in modern English that follow the same -en pluralization pattern. The most notable example besides oxen is:
- Child → Children
(This is another example of a word that retains the -en pluralization from Old English.)
Other words that once followed this pattern, such as eyen (plural of eye) and housen (plural of house), have long since fallen out of use. Today, the standard plural forms are eyes and houses.
Question 3:
Is “oxen” ever used in a singular sense?
Answer:
No, oxen is strictly plural. It is never used to describe a single animal. When referring to one animal, the correct word is ox.
For example:
- One ox pulled the cart through the village.
(Singular) - Two oxen worked together to plow the field.
(Plural)
Question 4:
What do you call a group of oxen?
Answer:
A group of oxen is commonly referred to as a team or a yoke. A yoke specifically refers to two oxen that are harnessed together for work, such as pulling a plow or a cart. In some contexts, a group of oxen can also be called a herd, though this term is more general and can apply to various types of cattle.
Examples:
- The farmer relied on a team of oxen to pull the wagon.
- A yoke of oxen was used to plow the field.
Practice Questions: Using “Ox” and “Oxen” Correctly
Let’s test your understanding of how to use ox and oxen with the following practice questions.
Question 1:
Fill in the blank with the correct plural form:
The farmer bought two strong _ to help with the harvest.
a) oxes
b) oxen
c) ox
Answer:
b) oxen
Explanation: The correct plural form of ox is oxen, not oxes. Oxes is a common mistake, but it is grammatically incorrect.
Question 2:
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
a) The oxen is grazing in the field.
b) The oxen are grazing in the field.
c) The oxen was grazing in the field.
Answer:
*b) The oxen are grazing in the field.
Explanation: Oxen is plural, so the verb should also be plural. The correct sentence is “The oxen are grazing in the field.”
Question 3:
True or False:
“Oxes” is an acceptable plural form of “ox.”
Answer:
False
Explanation: The correct plural form of ox is oxen, not oxes. Oxes is incorrect and should not be used.
Question 4:
What is the singular form of “oxen”?
a) ox
b) oxes
c) oxen
Answer:
a) ox
Explanation: The singular form of oxen is ox. Oxen is the plural form, and oxes is incorrect.
Singular and Plural Forms of Other Animals
Now that we’ve explored the singular and plural forms of ox, let’s look at the singular and plural forms of other animals that may have irregular plural forms:
- Goose → Geese
- Example (singular): The goose swam across the pond.
- Example (plural): The geese flew in formation.
- Mouse → Mice
- Example (singular): The mouse darted across the room.
- Example (plural): The mice hid under the table.
- Deer → Deer
- Example (singular): A deer stood at the edge of the forest.
- Example (plural): Several deer grazed in the meadow.
- Fish → Fish (or Fishes in some contexts)
- Example (singular): I caught one fish today.
- Example (plural): We saw many fish swimming in the river.
In each of these cases, the plural forms differ from the standard -s or -es endings that most English nouns follow, much like oxen.
Conclusion
The plural of ox is oxen, following an older English pluralization rule that adds -en to the singular form. While this might seem unusual in modern English, it is a remnant of the Old English language and is one of the few examples of this plural form that still exists today.
Key Points:
- The plural of ox is oxen.
- Oxes is incorrect and should not be used.
- Oxen follows an Old English pluralization pattern that adds -en instead of -s or -es.
- Other words with irregular plurals include children, geese, and mice.
By understanding the proper pluralization of ox, you can confidently use the word in both written and spoken English, avoiding common mistakes like oxes.
