In this article, we will explore the way to form the plural of fly and the rules that govern it. We will also look at some common mistakes that learners make and how to avoid them. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to use the plural of “fly” correctly in your writing and speech.
Definition and Plural of Fly
What Does “Fly” Mean?
The word fly can be both a noun and a verb, and its meaning changes depending on how it’s used.
| Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | A small flying insect | “There’s a fly on the wall.” |
| Verb | To move through the air | “Birds fly high in the sky.” |
Because of these two different uses, English learners often get confused about its plural form. Let’s look at each meaning separately.
Plural of “Fly” (the Insect)
✅ The plural of fly (the insect) is flies — not flys.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| fly | flies |
Examples:
-
There are too many flies in the kitchen.
-
The flies buzzed around the fruit bowl.
-
A few flies landed on the window.
💡 Tip:
Words ending in -y preceded by a consonant change the -y to -i and add -es in the plural.
Rule:
If a noun ends in consonant + y → change y to i and add -es.
Examples:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| fly | flies |
| baby | babies |
| city | cities |
| story | stories |
So, fly → flies follows the same pattern.
Pronunciation Guide
| Word | IPA | How It Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| fly | /flaɪ/ | “fl-eye” |
| flies | /flaɪz/ | “fl-ize” |
Other Meanings of “Fly”
The word fly also has a few other meanings, each with its own plural pattern.
| Meaning | Part of Speech | Plural Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insect | Noun | flies | “There are too many flies here.” |
| Part of trousers (zip area) | Noun | flies | “His flies are open!” |
| Fishing lure | Noun | flies | “The fisherman tied new flies.” |
| Action of moving through air | Verb | — (no plural) | “They fly fast.” |
Fly and Plural of Fly: Example Sentences
When it comes to forming the plural of the word “fly,” it can be confusing for many people. However, it is essential to know the correct form to use in different contexts. Here are some examples of the use of “fly” and its plural form “flies” in sentences:
- “I saw a fly on the wall.” – This sentence refers to a single insect, so the singular form “fly” is used.
- “There are many flies in the garden.” – In this sentence, “flies” is the plural form of “fly” used to refer to multiple insects.
- “The fly flew into the window.” – Here, “fly” is used as a verb to describe the action of an insect flying.
- “The flies are annoying me.” – This sentence uses “flies” as a noun to refer to multiple insects that are causing annoyance.
- “He tied a fly to his fishing line.” – In this sentence, “fly” refers to an artificial fishing lure, and the singular form is used.
- “I caught three flies with my flyswatter.” – Here, “flies” is the plural form of “fly” used to refer to multiple insects that were caught.
It is important to note that the plural form of “fly” is always “flies,” regardless of the context in which it is used. Using the incorrect form, such as “flys,” is considered incorrect and may be seen as a spelling error.
Common Expressions with “Fly”
Fly is used in many English idioms and phrases. Here are a few you might hear:
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time flies | Time passes quickly | “Wow, time flies when you’re having fun!” |
| Let’s fly | Leave or go quickly | “We should fly before it gets dark.” |
| On the fly | While doing something else or quickly | “He made that decision on the fly.” |
| Fly high | Be successful or happy | “She’s been flying high since she got promoted.” |
| As the crow flies | In a straight line (distance) | “It’s only 5 miles as the crow flies.” |
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks
-
A _______ is flying near the window.
-
There are two _______ in the kitchen.
-
The bird _______ across the sky.
-
My cat likes to chase _______.
-
The butterfly and the _______ landed on the flower.
Answer:
-
fly
-
flies
-
flies
-
flies
-
fly
Exercise 2: Choose the correct sentence
-
a) The flys are annoying.
b) The flies are annoying. ✅ -
a) A fly landed on my sandwich. ✅
b) A flies landed on my sandwich. -
a) The bird flies beautifully. ✅
b) The bird flys beautifully. -
a) We saw many flies at the picnic. ✅
b) We saw many flys at the picnic. -
a) She flies to Paris every summer. ✅
b) She flys to Paris every summer.