What is the plural of the noun “go†(as in “have a goâ€Â)?
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If I were to try to achieve something you could say I "had a go".
If I tried it multiple times, how would I write that down?
I had many goes
or
I had many go's
or
I had many gos
nouns grammatical-number orthography
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
If I were to try to achieve something you could say I "had a go".
If I tried it multiple times, how would I write that down?
I had many goes
or
I had many go's
or
I had many gos
nouns grammatical-number orthography
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
Just an example (If I understand you correctly): "I had a go on Tom's bike", "He let me have many **** on it". Instinct tells me it has to be the third option, but a Google books search says nobody else agrees with that. Plus, TFD has a listing for the plural noun, so I guess we have to go with that.
– Pam
11 hours ago
6
I believe it's "goes".
– BillJ
11 hours ago
1
You can find it in the dictionary that 'go' as a singular noun has the plural form of 'goes'. I often hear this 'go' in the phrase: 'on the go'; or 'have a go' ... I almost never hear this as a plural in this context though...and since this phrase is rather informal, I wonder if our discussion will be beneficial for the improvement of English language. Be careful with the noun 'go' which means a Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture (it is a mass noun) or a street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Source: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go
– Flonne Lightberry
11 hours ago
1
Goes is already established as the spelling for go +3SgPres; since theNPluralmorpheme is identical in shape to3SgPres, goes is the plural spelling, too.
– John Lawler
10 hours ago
2
As the answers indicate, "goes" is correct. Still, I would use "tries", or "attempts", or "turns" instead To my ear, it sounds much better to say, 'I had many tries' rather than 'I had many goes'. Quite honestly, the latter sounds like you may be having some digestive problems.
– Michael J.
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
If I were to try to achieve something you could say I "had a go".
If I tried it multiple times, how would I write that down?
I had many goes
or
I had many go's
or
I had many gos
nouns grammatical-number orthography
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
If I were to try to achieve something you could say I "had a go".
If I tried it multiple times, how would I write that down?
I had many goes
or
I had many go's
or
I had many gos
nouns grammatical-number orthography
nouns grammatical-number orthography
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
edited 52 mins ago
sumelic
44k7105206
44k7105206
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
asked 11 hours ago
Tom.Bowen89
1,9122714
1,9122714
Just an example (If I understand you correctly): "I had a go on Tom's bike", "He let me have many **** on it". Instinct tells me it has to be the third option, but a Google books search says nobody else agrees with that. Plus, TFD has a listing for the plural noun, so I guess we have to go with that.
– Pam
11 hours ago
6
I believe it's "goes".
– BillJ
11 hours ago
1
You can find it in the dictionary that 'go' as a singular noun has the plural form of 'goes'. I often hear this 'go' in the phrase: 'on the go'; or 'have a go' ... I almost never hear this as a plural in this context though...and since this phrase is rather informal, I wonder if our discussion will be beneficial for the improvement of English language. Be careful with the noun 'go' which means a Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture (it is a mass noun) or a street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Source: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go
– Flonne Lightberry
11 hours ago
1
Goes is already established as the spelling for go +3SgPres; since theNPluralmorpheme is identical in shape to3SgPres, goes is the plural spelling, too.
– John Lawler
10 hours ago
2
As the answers indicate, "goes" is correct. Still, I would use "tries", or "attempts", or "turns" instead To my ear, it sounds much better to say, 'I had many tries' rather than 'I had many goes'. Quite honestly, the latter sounds like you may be having some digestive problems.
– Michael J.
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 4 more comments
Just an example (If I understand you correctly): "I had a go on Tom's bike", "He let me have many **** on it". Instinct tells me it has to be the third option, but a Google books search says nobody else agrees with that. Plus, TFD has a listing for the plural noun, so I guess we have to go with that.
– Pam
11 hours ago
6
I believe it's "goes".
– BillJ
11 hours ago
1
You can find it in the dictionary that 'go' as a singular noun has the plural form of 'goes'. I often hear this 'go' in the phrase: 'on the go'; or 'have a go' ... I almost never hear this as a plural in this context though...and since this phrase is rather informal, I wonder if our discussion will be beneficial for the improvement of English language. Be careful with the noun 'go' which means a Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture (it is a mass noun) or a street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Source: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go
– Flonne Lightberry
11 hours ago
1
Goes is already established as the spelling for go +3SgPres; since theNPluralmorpheme is identical in shape to3SgPres, goes is the plural spelling, too.
– John Lawler
10 hours ago
2
As the answers indicate, "goes" is correct. Still, I would use "tries", or "attempts", or "turns" instead To my ear, it sounds much better to say, 'I had many tries' rather than 'I had many goes'. Quite honestly, the latter sounds like you may be having some digestive problems.
– Michael J.
8 hours ago
Just an example (If I understand you correctly): "I had a go on Tom's bike", "He let me have many **** on it". Instinct tells me it has to be the third option, but a Google books search says nobody else agrees with that. Plus, TFD has a listing for the plural noun, so I guess we have to go with that.
– Pam
11 hours ago
Just an example (If I understand you correctly): "I had a go on Tom's bike", "He let me have many **** on it". Instinct tells me it has to be the third option, but a Google books search says nobody else agrees with that. Plus, TFD has a listing for the plural noun, so I guess we have to go with that.
– Pam
11 hours ago
6
6
I believe it's "goes".
– BillJ
11 hours ago
I believe it's "goes".
– BillJ
11 hours ago
1
1
You can find it in the dictionary that 'go' as a singular noun has the plural form of 'goes'. I often hear this 'go' in the phrase: 'on the go'; or 'have a go' ... I almost never hear this as a plural in this context though...and since this phrase is rather informal, I wonder if our discussion will be beneficial for the improvement of English language. Be careful with the noun 'go' which means a Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture (it is a mass noun) or a street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Source: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go
– Flonne Lightberry
11 hours ago
You can find it in the dictionary that 'go' as a singular noun has the plural form of 'goes'. I often hear this 'go' in the phrase: 'on the go'; or 'have a go' ... I almost never hear this as a plural in this context though...and since this phrase is rather informal, I wonder if our discussion will be beneficial for the improvement of English language. Be careful with the noun 'go' which means a Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture (it is a mass noun) or a street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Source: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go
– Flonne Lightberry
11 hours ago
1
1
Goes is already established as the spelling for go +
3SgPres; since the NPlural morpheme is identical in shape to 3SgPres, goes is the plural spelling, too.– John Lawler
10 hours ago
Goes is already established as the spelling for go +
3SgPres; since the NPlural morpheme is identical in shape to 3SgPres, goes is the plural spelling, too.– John Lawler
10 hours ago
2
2
As the answers indicate, "goes" is correct. Still, I would use "tries", or "attempts", or "turns" instead To my ear, it sounds much better to say, 'I had many tries' rather than 'I had many goes'. Quite honestly, the latter sounds like you may be having some digestive problems.
– Michael J.
8 hours ago
As the answers indicate, "goes" is correct. Still, I would use "tries", or "attempts", or "turns" instead To my ear, it sounds much better to say, 'I had many tries' rather than 'I had many goes'. Quite honestly, the latter sounds like you may be having some digestive problems.
– Michael J.
8 hours ago
 |Â
show 4 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
down vote
The dictionaries I've checked seem to be unanimous that the plural of the noun "go" is "goes". I didn't see one list its plural as "gos". However, I didn't check all dictionaries.
American Heritage Dictionary:
n. pl. goes
Collins Dictionary:
n, pl goes
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
plural goes
Cambridge Dictionary:
plural goes
Random House Unabridged Dictionary (dictionary.com):
plural goes
Google NGram Viewer does not show any results for "two gos at" or "two gos at", but does when written as "goes".
A Google search shows the following results:
"two gos at" = 453 results.
"two goes at" = 19,500 results.
"three gos at" = 252 results.
"three goes at" = 20,200 results.
Note that both Google search and Ngram Viewer may show false positives, as Google search, as far as I know, doesn't take punctuation into account when giving search results, ie., full stops, commas. But I think it's safe to assume the consensus is that the plural of go (attempt or try) is "goes".
I think this is a good question, as somewhere in my head I have an instinct to write it "gos". However the answer is gotten easily by checking some dictionaries.
Also, if you wrote "I had three gos at it before giving up", I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong. This is just my opinion. I have this feeling because the "-os"/"-oes" plural ending rules are wildly inconsistent. Potatoes, tomatoes and heroes are correct. But "photos" and "burritos" are correct. However most dictionaries seem to list either "-os" or "-oes" ending as acceptable in "ghetto" and "mosquito".
Both "mosquito" and "burrito" most likely come from Spanish, yet most dictionaries say only "mosquito" can have plural ending either "-os" or "oes", whereas they're consistent in listing "-os" for burrito plural. Same goes for "canto", "manifesto" and "grotto". These words most likely come from Italian, yet the plural of "canto" is "cantos", whereas the dictionaries say the plural of "grotto" or "manifesto" can end in either "-os" or "-oes". It's actually a tricky topic.
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
You can find 'goes' in the WordWeb Dictionary" wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=go
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
2
"I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong." This typical British reader would. "Gos" looks like it's a singular noun pronounced "Goss" to rhyme with "boss" or "moss" (with a British English "o" sound, not the American English vowel which is closer to a long "a" than a BrE "o").
– alephzero
9 hours ago
1
@alephzero Yes, you're right, I hope the way I phrased it didn't come off as being a certain claim, it was just my feeling of the "typical" person. I probably exclude people who use this site as typical readers, like you. Sorry if this wasn't clear. We also have the case the of "yeses and nos/noes", where many dictionaries recognise the plural of "no" as either "nos" or "noes". The "nos" spelling I imagine would look like what you have pointed out, ie., "noss".
– Zebrafish
7 hours ago
2
If I read "I had three gos on Bob's bike" I would never guess that it referred to "a go". Apart from the borrowed words which have brought their native plurals along with them, nouns that end in "o" take "es" to form the plural, so it's "goes" for sure.
– CCTO
6 hours ago
1
The "-os"/"-oes" endings aren't all that inconsistent. The default is to include the e, but words imported from Romance languages use "-os". The increasing use of "mosquitoes" is a study in the normalization of an imported Spanish word.
– chrylis
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
5
down vote
There is an alternate construction which expresses plurality using a singular conjugation, which may be of interest. Tho slightly odd, it has a history of use, and is readily understood:
"many a go"
As in:
We've had many a go at this.
I'll have many a go.
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
Technically, verbs are conjugated, nouns are inflected.
– Acccumulation
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
In most usage I have heard, I would consider the phrase "a go at it" to be non-count. In other words, it does not specify the number of tries and thus neither singular nor plural.
Though, VizJS answer does seem to be a logical plural.
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
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A "go" is singular and specifies a single attempt. I can't see how it's non-count if I can have "several goes" - which I should note is a common if informal expression in my experience (Aust. Eng.).
– Chappo
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-2
down vote
Not what the OP intended...
The noun go (a Japanese board game) has the English plural gos. Perhaps one could even say "I had a go" with this meaning.
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
3
No, you can't say 'gos' for Go which means a Japanese board game. It's a mass noun (uncountable): en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go (example: ‘The game that does seem to me to be superior to chess, in that it has both depth and simplicity, is the Japanese game of Go.’)
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
7
So the plural ofchessischesses, right? "I had a chess"? I don't think so...
– TonyK
8 hours ago
6
I had a chess set. I played many chess games. I had a go set. I played many go games. I had many goes at go. I had many goes at chess.
– DoverAudio
7 hours ago
1
I've never had a chess at go though, in my entire checkered past.
– Monty Harder
4 hours ago
1
@MontyHarder Get a Clue, you don't have a Monopoly on Go.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
down vote
The dictionaries I've checked seem to be unanimous that the plural of the noun "go" is "goes". I didn't see one list its plural as "gos". However, I didn't check all dictionaries.
American Heritage Dictionary:
n. pl. goes
Collins Dictionary:
n, pl goes
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
plural goes
Cambridge Dictionary:
plural goes
Random House Unabridged Dictionary (dictionary.com):
plural goes
Google NGram Viewer does not show any results for "two gos at" or "two gos at", but does when written as "goes".
A Google search shows the following results:
"two gos at" = 453 results.
"two goes at" = 19,500 results.
"three gos at" = 252 results.
"three goes at" = 20,200 results.
Note that both Google search and Ngram Viewer may show false positives, as Google search, as far as I know, doesn't take punctuation into account when giving search results, ie., full stops, commas. But I think it's safe to assume the consensus is that the plural of go (attempt or try) is "goes".
I think this is a good question, as somewhere in my head I have an instinct to write it "gos". However the answer is gotten easily by checking some dictionaries.
Also, if you wrote "I had three gos at it before giving up", I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong. This is just my opinion. I have this feeling because the "-os"/"-oes" plural ending rules are wildly inconsistent. Potatoes, tomatoes and heroes are correct. But "photos" and "burritos" are correct. However most dictionaries seem to list either "-os" or "-oes" ending as acceptable in "ghetto" and "mosquito".
Both "mosquito" and "burrito" most likely come from Spanish, yet most dictionaries say only "mosquito" can have plural ending either "-os" or "oes", whereas they're consistent in listing "-os" for burrito plural. Same goes for "canto", "manifesto" and "grotto". These words most likely come from Italian, yet the plural of "canto" is "cantos", whereas the dictionaries say the plural of "grotto" or "manifesto" can end in either "-os" or "-oes". It's actually a tricky topic.
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
You can find 'goes' in the WordWeb Dictionary" wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=go
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
2
"I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong." This typical British reader would. "Gos" looks like it's a singular noun pronounced "Goss" to rhyme with "boss" or "moss" (with a British English "o" sound, not the American English vowel which is closer to a long "a" than a BrE "o").
– alephzero
9 hours ago
1
@alephzero Yes, you're right, I hope the way I phrased it didn't come off as being a certain claim, it was just my feeling of the "typical" person. I probably exclude people who use this site as typical readers, like you. Sorry if this wasn't clear. We also have the case the of "yeses and nos/noes", where many dictionaries recognise the plural of "no" as either "nos" or "noes". The "nos" spelling I imagine would look like what you have pointed out, ie., "noss".
– Zebrafish
7 hours ago
2
If I read "I had three gos on Bob's bike" I would never guess that it referred to "a go". Apart from the borrowed words which have brought their native plurals along with them, nouns that end in "o" take "es" to form the plural, so it's "goes" for sure.
– CCTO
6 hours ago
1
The "-os"/"-oes" endings aren't all that inconsistent. The default is to include the e, but words imported from Romance languages use "-os". The increasing use of "mosquitoes" is a study in the normalization of an imported Spanish word.
– chrylis
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
25
down vote
The dictionaries I've checked seem to be unanimous that the plural of the noun "go" is "goes". I didn't see one list its plural as "gos". However, I didn't check all dictionaries.
American Heritage Dictionary:
n. pl. goes
Collins Dictionary:
n, pl goes
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
plural goes
Cambridge Dictionary:
plural goes
Random House Unabridged Dictionary (dictionary.com):
plural goes
Google NGram Viewer does not show any results for "two gos at" or "two gos at", but does when written as "goes".
A Google search shows the following results:
"two gos at" = 453 results.
"two goes at" = 19,500 results.
"three gos at" = 252 results.
"three goes at" = 20,200 results.
Note that both Google search and Ngram Viewer may show false positives, as Google search, as far as I know, doesn't take punctuation into account when giving search results, ie., full stops, commas. But I think it's safe to assume the consensus is that the plural of go (attempt or try) is "goes".
I think this is a good question, as somewhere in my head I have an instinct to write it "gos". However the answer is gotten easily by checking some dictionaries.
Also, if you wrote "I had three gos at it before giving up", I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong. This is just my opinion. I have this feeling because the "-os"/"-oes" plural ending rules are wildly inconsistent. Potatoes, tomatoes and heroes are correct. But "photos" and "burritos" are correct. However most dictionaries seem to list either "-os" or "-oes" ending as acceptable in "ghetto" and "mosquito".
Both "mosquito" and "burrito" most likely come from Spanish, yet most dictionaries say only "mosquito" can have plural ending either "-os" or "oes", whereas they're consistent in listing "-os" for burrito plural. Same goes for "canto", "manifesto" and "grotto". These words most likely come from Italian, yet the plural of "canto" is "cantos", whereas the dictionaries say the plural of "grotto" or "manifesto" can end in either "-os" or "-oes". It's actually a tricky topic.
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
You can find 'goes' in the WordWeb Dictionary" wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=go
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
2
"I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong." This typical British reader would. "Gos" looks like it's a singular noun pronounced "Goss" to rhyme with "boss" or "moss" (with a British English "o" sound, not the American English vowel which is closer to a long "a" than a BrE "o").
– alephzero
9 hours ago
1
@alephzero Yes, you're right, I hope the way I phrased it didn't come off as being a certain claim, it was just my feeling of the "typical" person. I probably exclude people who use this site as typical readers, like you. Sorry if this wasn't clear. We also have the case the of "yeses and nos/noes", where many dictionaries recognise the plural of "no" as either "nos" or "noes". The "nos" spelling I imagine would look like what you have pointed out, ie., "noss".
– Zebrafish
7 hours ago
2
If I read "I had three gos on Bob's bike" I would never guess that it referred to "a go". Apart from the borrowed words which have brought their native plurals along with them, nouns that end in "o" take "es" to form the plural, so it's "goes" for sure.
– CCTO
6 hours ago
1
The "-os"/"-oes" endings aren't all that inconsistent. The default is to include the e, but words imported from Romance languages use "-os". The increasing use of "mosquitoes" is a study in the normalization of an imported Spanish word.
– chrylis
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
25
down vote
up vote
25
down vote
The dictionaries I've checked seem to be unanimous that the plural of the noun "go" is "goes". I didn't see one list its plural as "gos". However, I didn't check all dictionaries.
American Heritage Dictionary:
n. pl. goes
Collins Dictionary:
n, pl goes
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
plural goes
Cambridge Dictionary:
plural goes
Random House Unabridged Dictionary (dictionary.com):
plural goes
Google NGram Viewer does not show any results for "two gos at" or "two gos at", but does when written as "goes".
A Google search shows the following results:
"two gos at" = 453 results.
"two goes at" = 19,500 results.
"three gos at" = 252 results.
"three goes at" = 20,200 results.
Note that both Google search and Ngram Viewer may show false positives, as Google search, as far as I know, doesn't take punctuation into account when giving search results, ie., full stops, commas. But I think it's safe to assume the consensus is that the plural of go (attempt or try) is "goes".
I think this is a good question, as somewhere in my head I have an instinct to write it "gos". However the answer is gotten easily by checking some dictionaries.
Also, if you wrote "I had three gos at it before giving up", I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong. This is just my opinion. I have this feeling because the "-os"/"-oes" plural ending rules are wildly inconsistent. Potatoes, tomatoes and heroes are correct. But "photos" and "burritos" are correct. However most dictionaries seem to list either "-os" or "-oes" ending as acceptable in "ghetto" and "mosquito".
Both "mosquito" and "burrito" most likely come from Spanish, yet most dictionaries say only "mosquito" can have plural ending either "-os" or "oes", whereas they're consistent in listing "-os" for burrito plural. Same goes for "canto", "manifesto" and "grotto". These words most likely come from Italian, yet the plural of "canto" is "cantos", whereas the dictionaries say the plural of "grotto" or "manifesto" can end in either "-os" or "-oes". It's actually a tricky topic.
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
The dictionaries I've checked seem to be unanimous that the plural of the noun "go" is "goes". I didn't see one list its plural as "gos". However, I didn't check all dictionaries.
American Heritage Dictionary:
n. pl. goes
Collins Dictionary:
n, pl goes
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
plural goes
Cambridge Dictionary:
plural goes
Random House Unabridged Dictionary (dictionary.com):
plural goes
Google NGram Viewer does not show any results for "two gos at" or "two gos at", but does when written as "goes".
A Google search shows the following results:
"two gos at" = 453 results.
"two goes at" = 19,500 results.
"three gos at" = 252 results.
"three goes at" = 20,200 results.
Note that both Google search and Ngram Viewer may show false positives, as Google search, as far as I know, doesn't take punctuation into account when giving search results, ie., full stops, commas. But I think it's safe to assume the consensus is that the plural of go (attempt or try) is "goes".
I think this is a good question, as somewhere in my head I have an instinct to write it "gos". However the answer is gotten easily by checking some dictionaries.
Also, if you wrote "I had three gos at it before giving up", I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong. This is just my opinion. I have this feeling because the "-os"/"-oes" plural ending rules are wildly inconsistent. Potatoes, tomatoes and heroes are correct. But "photos" and "burritos" are correct. However most dictionaries seem to list either "-os" or "-oes" ending as acceptable in "ghetto" and "mosquito".
Both "mosquito" and "burrito" most likely come from Spanish, yet most dictionaries say only "mosquito" can have plural ending either "-os" or "oes", whereas they're consistent in listing "-os" for burrito plural. Same goes for "canto", "manifesto" and "grotto". These words most likely come from Italian, yet the plural of "canto" is "cantos", whereas the dictionaries say the plural of "grotto" or "manifesto" can end in either "-os" or "-oes". It's actually a tricky topic.
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
edited 10 hours ago
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
answered 11 hours ago
Zebrafish
8,32321232
8,32321232
You can find 'goes' in the WordWeb Dictionary" wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=go
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
2
"I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong." This typical British reader would. "Gos" looks like it's a singular noun pronounced "Goss" to rhyme with "boss" or "moss" (with a British English "o" sound, not the American English vowel which is closer to a long "a" than a BrE "o").
– alephzero
9 hours ago
1
@alephzero Yes, you're right, I hope the way I phrased it didn't come off as being a certain claim, it was just my feeling of the "typical" person. I probably exclude people who use this site as typical readers, like you. Sorry if this wasn't clear. We also have the case the of "yeses and nos/noes", where many dictionaries recognise the plural of "no" as either "nos" or "noes". The "nos" spelling I imagine would look like what you have pointed out, ie., "noss".
– Zebrafish
7 hours ago
2
If I read "I had three gos on Bob's bike" I would never guess that it referred to "a go". Apart from the borrowed words which have brought their native plurals along with them, nouns that end in "o" take "es" to form the plural, so it's "goes" for sure.
– CCTO
6 hours ago
1
The "-os"/"-oes" endings aren't all that inconsistent. The default is to include the e, but words imported from Romance languages use "-os". The increasing use of "mosquitoes" is a study in the normalization of an imported Spanish word.
– chrylis
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
You can find 'goes' in the WordWeb Dictionary" wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=go
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
2
"I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong." This typical British reader would. "Gos" looks like it's a singular noun pronounced "Goss" to rhyme with "boss" or "moss" (with a British English "o" sound, not the American English vowel which is closer to a long "a" than a BrE "o").
– alephzero
9 hours ago
1
@alephzero Yes, you're right, I hope the way I phrased it didn't come off as being a certain claim, it was just my feeling of the "typical" person. I probably exclude people who use this site as typical readers, like you. Sorry if this wasn't clear. We also have the case the of "yeses and nos/noes", where many dictionaries recognise the plural of "no" as either "nos" or "noes". The "nos" spelling I imagine would look like what you have pointed out, ie., "noss".
– Zebrafish
7 hours ago
2
If I read "I had three gos on Bob's bike" I would never guess that it referred to "a go". Apart from the borrowed words which have brought their native plurals along with them, nouns that end in "o" take "es" to form the plural, so it's "goes" for sure.
– CCTO
6 hours ago
1
The "-os"/"-oes" endings aren't all that inconsistent. The default is to include the e, but words imported from Romance languages use "-os". The increasing use of "mosquitoes" is a study in the normalization of an imported Spanish word.
– chrylis
6 hours ago
You can find 'goes' in the WordWeb Dictionary" wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=go
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
You can find 'goes' in the WordWeb Dictionary" wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=go
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
2
2
"I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong." This typical British reader would. "Gos" looks like it's a singular noun pronounced "Goss" to rhyme with "boss" or "moss" (with a British English "o" sound, not the American English vowel which is closer to a long "a" than a BrE "o").
– alephzero
9 hours ago
"I have a feeling the typical reader probably wouldn't even be surprised by it or notice it particularly as wrong." This typical British reader would. "Gos" looks like it's a singular noun pronounced "Goss" to rhyme with "boss" or "moss" (with a British English "o" sound, not the American English vowel which is closer to a long "a" than a BrE "o").
– alephzero
9 hours ago
1
1
@alephzero Yes, you're right, I hope the way I phrased it didn't come off as being a certain claim, it was just my feeling of the "typical" person. I probably exclude people who use this site as typical readers, like you. Sorry if this wasn't clear. We also have the case the of "yeses and nos/noes", where many dictionaries recognise the plural of "no" as either "nos" or "noes". The "nos" spelling I imagine would look like what you have pointed out, ie., "noss".
– Zebrafish
7 hours ago
@alephzero Yes, you're right, I hope the way I phrased it didn't come off as being a certain claim, it was just my feeling of the "typical" person. I probably exclude people who use this site as typical readers, like you. Sorry if this wasn't clear. We also have the case the of "yeses and nos/noes", where many dictionaries recognise the plural of "no" as either "nos" or "noes". The "nos" spelling I imagine would look like what you have pointed out, ie., "noss".
– Zebrafish
7 hours ago
2
2
If I read "I had three gos on Bob's bike" I would never guess that it referred to "a go". Apart from the borrowed words which have brought their native plurals along with them, nouns that end in "o" take "es" to form the plural, so it's "goes" for sure.
– CCTO
6 hours ago
If I read "I had three gos on Bob's bike" I would never guess that it referred to "a go". Apart from the borrowed words which have brought their native plurals along with them, nouns that end in "o" take "es" to form the plural, so it's "goes" for sure.
– CCTO
6 hours ago
1
1
The "-os"/"-oes" endings aren't all that inconsistent. The default is to include the e, but words imported from Romance languages use "-os". The increasing use of "mosquitoes" is a study in the normalization of an imported Spanish word.
– chrylis
6 hours ago
The "-os"/"-oes" endings aren't all that inconsistent. The default is to include the e, but words imported from Romance languages use "-os". The increasing use of "mosquitoes" is a study in the normalization of an imported Spanish word.
– chrylis
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
5
down vote
There is an alternate construction which expresses plurality using a singular conjugation, which may be of interest. Tho slightly odd, it has a history of use, and is readily understood:
"many a go"
As in:
We've had many a go at this.
I'll have many a go.
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
Technically, verbs are conjugated, nouns are inflected.
– Acccumulation
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
There is an alternate construction which expresses plurality using a singular conjugation, which may be of interest. Tho slightly odd, it has a history of use, and is readily understood:
"many a go"
As in:
We've had many a go at this.
I'll have many a go.
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
Technically, verbs are conjugated, nouns are inflected.
– Acccumulation
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
There is an alternate construction which expresses plurality using a singular conjugation, which may be of interest. Tho slightly odd, it has a history of use, and is readily understood:
"many a go"
As in:
We've had many a go at this.
I'll have many a go.
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
There is an alternate construction which expresses plurality using a singular conjugation, which may be of interest. Tho slightly odd, it has a history of use, and is readily understood:
"many a go"
As in:
We've had many a go at this.
I'll have many a go.
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
answered 7 hours ago
VizJS
974
974
Technically, verbs are conjugated, nouns are inflected.
– Acccumulation
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Technically, verbs are conjugated, nouns are inflected.
– Acccumulation
5 hours ago
Technically, verbs are conjugated, nouns are inflected.
– Acccumulation
5 hours ago
Technically, verbs are conjugated, nouns are inflected.
– Acccumulation
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
In most usage I have heard, I would consider the phrase "a go at it" to be non-count. In other words, it does not specify the number of tries and thus neither singular nor plural.
Though, VizJS answer does seem to be a logical plural.
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
New contributor
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
A "go" is singular and specifies a single attempt. I can't see how it's non-count if I can have "several goes" - which I should note is a common if informal expression in my experience (Aust. Eng.).
– Chappo
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
In most usage I have heard, I would consider the phrase "a go at it" to be non-count. In other words, it does not specify the number of tries and thus neither singular nor plural.
Though, VizJS answer does seem to be a logical plural.
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
New contributor
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
A "go" is singular and specifies a single attempt. I can't see how it's non-count if I can have "several goes" - which I should note is a common if informal expression in my experience (Aust. Eng.).
– Chappo
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
In most usage I have heard, I would consider the phrase "a go at it" to be non-count. In other words, it does not specify the number of tries and thus neither singular nor plural.
Though, VizJS answer does seem to be a logical plural.
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
New contributor
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In most usage I have heard, I would consider the phrase "a go at it" to be non-count. In other words, it does not specify the number of tries and thus neither singular nor plural.
Though, VizJS answer does seem to be a logical plural.
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
New contributor
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
New contributor
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
answered 2 hours ago
ravery
992
992
New contributor
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
ravery is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
A "go" is singular and specifies a single attempt. I can't see how it's non-count if I can have "several goes" - which I should note is a common if informal expression in my experience (Aust. Eng.).
– Chappo
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
A "go" is singular and specifies a single attempt. I can't see how it's non-count if I can have "several goes" - which I should note is a common if informal expression in my experience (Aust. Eng.).
– Chappo
1 min ago
A "go" is singular and specifies a single attempt. I can't see how it's non-count if I can have "several goes" - which I should note is a common if informal expression in my experience (Aust. Eng.).
– Chappo
1 min ago
A "go" is singular and specifies a single attempt. I can't see how it's non-count if I can have "several goes" - which I should note is a common if informal expression in my experience (Aust. Eng.).
– Chappo
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-2
down vote
Not what the OP intended...
The noun go (a Japanese board game) has the English plural gos. Perhaps one could even say "I had a go" with this meaning.
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
3
No, you can't say 'gos' for Go which means a Japanese board game. It's a mass noun (uncountable): en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go (example: ‘The game that does seem to me to be superior to chess, in that it has both depth and simplicity, is the Japanese game of Go.’)
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
7
So the plural ofchessischesses, right? "I had a chess"? I don't think so...
– TonyK
8 hours ago
6
I had a chess set. I played many chess games. I had a go set. I played many go games. I had many goes at go. I had many goes at chess.
– DoverAudio
7 hours ago
1
I've never had a chess at go though, in my entire checkered past.
– Monty Harder
4 hours ago
1
@MontyHarder Get a Clue, you don't have a Monopoly on Go.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
-2
down vote
Not what the OP intended...
The noun go (a Japanese board game) has the English plural gos. Perhaps one could even say "I had a go" with this meaning.
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
3
No, you can't say 'gos' for Go which means a Japanese board game. It's a mass noun (uncountable): en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go (example: ‘The game that does seem to me to be superior to chess, in that it has both depth and simplicity, is the Japanese game of Go.’)
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
7
So the plural ofchessischesses, right? "I had a chess"? I don't think so...
– TonyK
8 hours ago
6
I had a chess set. I played many chess games. I had a go set. I played many go games. I had many goes at go. I had many goes at chess.
– DoverAudio
7 hours ago
1
I've never had a chess at go though, in my entire checkered past.
– Monty Harder
4 hours ago
1
@MontyHarder Get a Clue, you don't have a Monopoly on Go.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
-2
down vote
up vote
-2
down vote
Not what the OP intended...
The noun go (a Japanese board game) has the English plural gos. Perhaps one could even say "I had a go" with this meaning.
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
Not what the OP intended...
The noun go (a Japanese board game) has the English plural gos. Perhaps one could even say "I had a go" with this meaning.
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
answered 10 hours ago
GEdgar
13k22043
13k22043
3
No, you can't say 'gos' for Go which means a Japanese board game. It's a mass noun (uncountable): en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go (example: ‘The game that does seem to me to be superior to chess, in that it has both depth and simplicity, is the Japanese game of Go.’)
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
7
So the plural ofchessischesses, right? "I had a chess"? I don't think so...
– TonyK
8 hours ago
6
I had a chess set. I played many chess games. I had a go set. I played many go games. I had many goes at go. I had many goes at chess.
– DoverAudio
7 hours ago
1
I've never had a chess at go though, in my entire checkered past.
– Monty Harder
4 hours ago
1
@MontyHarder Get a Clue, you don't have a Monopoly on Go.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
3
No, you can't say 'gos' for Go which means a Japanese board game. It's a mass noun (uncountable): en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go (example: ‘The game that does seem to me to be superior to chess, in that it has both depth and simplicity, is the Japanese game of Go.’)
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
7
So the plural ofchessischesses, right? "I had a chess"? I don't think so...
– TonyK
8 hours ago
6
I had a chess set. I played many chess games. I had a go set. I played many go games. I had many goes at go. I had many goes at chess.
– DoverAudio
7 hours ago
1
I've never had a chess at go though, in my entire checkered past.
– Monty Harder
4 hours ago
1
@MontyHarder Get a Clue, you don't have a Monopoly on Go.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
3
3
No, you can't say 'gos' for Go which means a Japanese board game. It's a mass noun (uncountable): en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go (example: ‘The game that does seem to me to be superior to chess, in that it has both depth and simplicity, is the Japanese game of Go.’)
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
No, you can't say 'gos' for Go which means a Japanese board game. It's a mass noun (uncountable): en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go (example: ‘The game that does seem to me to be superior to chess, in that it has both depth and simplicity, is the Japanese game of Go.’)
– Flonne Lightberry
10 hours ago
7
7
So the plural of
chess is chesses, right? "I had a chess"? I don't think so...– TonyK
8 hours ago
So the plural of
chess is chesses, right? "I had a chess"? I don't think so...– TonyK
8 hours ago
6
6
I had a chess set. I played many chess games. I had a go set. I played many go games. I had many goes at go. I had many goes at chess.
– DoverAudio
7 hours ago
I had a chess set. I played many chess games. I had a go set. I played many go games. I had many goes at go. I had many goes at chess.
– DoverAudio
7 hours ago
1
1
I've never had a chess at go though, in my entire checkered past.
– Monty Harder
4 hours ago
I've never had a chess at go though, in my entire checkered past.
– Monty Harder
4 hours ago
1
1
@MontyHarder Get a Clue, you don't have a Monopoly on Go.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
@MontyHarder Get a Clue, you don't have a Monopoly on Go.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
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Just an example (If I understand you correctly): "I had a go on Tom's bike", "He let me have many **** on it". Instinct tells me it has to be the third option, but a Google books search says nobody else agrees with that. Plus, TFD has a listing for the plural noun, so I guess we have to go with that.
– Pam
11 hours ago
6
I believe it's "goes".
– BillJ
11 hours ago
1
You can find it in the dictionary that 'go' as a singular noun has the plural form of 'goes'. I often hear this 'go' in the phrase: 'on the go'; or 'have a go' ... I almost never hear this as a plural in this context though...and since this phrase is rather informal, I wonder if our discussion will be beneficial for the improvement of English language. Be careful with the noun 'go' which means a Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture (it is a mass noun) or a street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Source: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/go
– Flonne Lightberry
11 hours ago
1
Goes is already established as the spelling for go +
3SgPres; since theNPluralmorpheme is identical in shape to3SgPres, goes is the plural spelling, too.– John Lawler
10 hours ago
2
As the answers indicate, "goes" is correct. Still, I would use "tries", or "attempts", or "turns" instead To my ear, it sounds much better to say, 'I had many tries' rather than 'I had many goes'. Quite honestly, the latter sounds like you may be having some digestive problems.
– Michael J.
8 hours ago