fruit / fruits

18:40 Dec 14, 2017 

Of course it does! Because that's the standard expression! There are very few instances like this one that specifically require the singular, hence why it is so rare!

18:20 Dec 14, 2017 

Both forms are acceptable:

fruit(s) of your labor - definition and synonyms

PHRASE
the benefits of your hard work
It’s an efficient lawn mower that leaves you time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/f...

Specifically:

When one uses "fruit", it means a single fruit like mango, orange, and so on. But when we use "fruits" it refers to different kinds of fruit; for example "there are fruits in the basket" means that there is more than one type of fruit in the basket. Fruit is an uncountable noun, so it has no plural form.

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/25147/is-using-f...

17:41 Dec 14, 2017 

"Fruits of his labors" gets 50% more hits than "fruit".

17:19 Dec 14, 2017 

I think you are getting muddled up: I didn't say anything about looking it up, that was Phil. If you have found any examples of the plural used (correctly!) in this particular construction, then I'd be entranced to see them!

17:15 Dec 14, 2017 

This is really just basic EN grammar.
The issue of countable /uncountable doesn't really arise, since the structure here specifically requires the singular anyway; and I think using the plural in this particular instance really is verging very close to indeed being actually "wrong": it would sound as weird as saying "I was an only children"
I'd like to see any supporting examples of this expression in an exactly comparable context that legitimately and correctly use a plural?

17:00 Dec 14, 2017 

@ Tony - easy to look up but I found usage of both.

@ Phil - the Italian uses "dovevo", is this a modal usage difference ?

SUO - Yes, I noticed that after submitting, I ended with "...his work."

16:37 Dec 14, 2017 

This is easy to look up, but I don't think it's a non-pro question. (I had to check.)

16:35 Dec 14, 2017 

Fruit is usually uncountable, so the plural is fruit. But fruits is not wrong.
http//en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fruit#Usage_notes
You've translated "suo" as "the", so the sentence isn't very clear in my opinion. And are you sure "should not have been" is right?

16:19 Dec 14, 2017 

If anyone is interested, the original is in Italian:
"...ma solo il frutto del suo lavoro."