Flies or flys – which is correct?
Many verbs have unique conjugations. It may sometimes be hard to remember all the rules governing their use, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. In what way should we use the words flies and flys? Is it flys or flies? Which part of speech is flies? Is flys the incorrect form? What should we know about these words in general? Let’s check!
Flies or flys – which form is correct?
In today’s world, flies is the only correct form. This word follows the general rules which govern words ending in -y (when you pair a verb such as fly with a singular noun, the verb generally takes the third person singular form). Flys is a misspelling of the word flies and it shouldn’t be used on a daily basis.
Flies or flys? What’s the meaning of the word flies?
Flies can be both a noun and a verb. Flies as a noun meaning small insects (two or more). It’s worth emphasising that flies is a plural form of the word fly, which is one flying insect.
When it comes to the flies – verb – it is the third person singular conjugation of the verb fly. Most importantly, we refer to a thing or a person (always singular) in present tense. Summing up this paragraph, the easiest way to describe the word flies briefly is to use the words “a plural noun and a singular verb”.
What’s the meaning of the word flys?
When it comes to the word flys, it has no place in modern English. There was a time when flys was the plural form, used to refer to a unique mode of transport. Actually, there is one exception, in which you can use the word flys. Imagine that you want to write something about 19th-century Great Britain. Using flys would be acceptable taking into account that the word existed at the time.
Flies or flys – what’s the difference?
Flies and flys are homophones and this is probably the only thing they have in common. The main difference between them is that the form flies still exists today, and flys is long forgotten. It’s worth adding that flys wasn’t the plural form of every meaning of the word fly. Flys was understood as zippers on the pants, antique carriages, fly balls in baseball, and areas over stages. Fly has many more meanings and we cannot write things such as “time flys” etc.
What are the synonyms of the word flies?
- Soars,
- wings,
- glides,
- flutters,
- waves.
Flies or flys – now it’s all clear! Examples in sentences
- Pretty often the bird flies to a tree branch near my window and sings a melodious tune.
- House flies pose a risk to human health.
- Flies feeding on the ears of big cats in zoos can be a big problem.
- Fruit flies enjoy sweet liquids.
