feed on are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feed on are" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It appears to be a combination of words that do not form a coherent or grammatically correct expression. Example: "The animals feed on are not easily visible in the wild." (This example is incorrect due to the phrase.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Rodents invade homes during the fall, not because of cooler weather but because the seeds and plants they feed on are gone, sending them elsewhere for food.

The New York Times

These nesting colonies are usually found adjacent to upwelling currents in the sea where invertebrates and fish that the birds feed on are most abundant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The lambs are never kept in confinement, and on pasture, they are moved from field to field, a practice called rotational grazing, so that the grasses they feed on are vigorous and concentrated in nutrients.

The New York Times - Food

Bacterial spores and the nutrients they will need to feed on are added as granules into the concrete mix.

BBC

However, the exudates of several tree species they are known to feed on are high in protein, so some fork-marked lemurs may meet their protein requirements without preying on insects.

Wikipedia

Spiders are not interested in human and pet food, but insects that spiders feed on are very interested in these food sources.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"What a large bear up there would find to feed on is another matter," he said.

The Guardian

Instead, the range of plants that animals feed on is determined to a very large extent by plant secondary compounds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Last year, amid record snowfall so deep that all the willow branches that ungulates feed on were buried, a starving moose charged him on two occasions, two weeks apart.

The New Yorker

Starving them of the attention they crave and the upset they hunger for and feed on is the only answer.

Huffington Post

Moreover, the fishes being fed on are generally resting and do not seem to be disturbed by the hematophagous activity of the colubrariid snail.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "feed on are" as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, rephrase your sentence to use correct grammar.

Common error

Ensure that the verb "feed" is correctly conjugated and agrees with the subject. The phrase "feed on" should be followed by a noun or pronoun, not "are". For example, replace "animals that feed on are" with "animals that are fed on" or "animals that feed on grass".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feed on are" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is either "feed on" followed by a noun phrase indicating what is being consumed or "are fed on" indicating a passive relationship. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "feed on are" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's not a valid expression in English. The correct forms are "feed on", followed by a noun that specifies what is being consumed, or "are fed on", indicating a passive relationship where something is being consumed by something else. While there are instances of the phrase appearing in various contexts like news, encyclopedias, and scientific articles, its usage is inaccurate. Therefore, writers should avoid this phrase and opt for grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are fed on

Passive voice construction, indicating something is being consumed.

are nourished by

Implies sustenance and support, rather than just consumption.

consume

A more direct verb indicating the act of eating or using.

are sustained by

Focuses on the life-sustaining aspect of the consumption.

devour

Suggests a more intense or ravenous form of consumption.

depend on for food

A straightforward way of saying what an organism needs for survival.

rely on for sustenance

Emphasizes dependence on something for survival.

derive nutrition from

Highlights the nutritional benefits gained from consuming something.

gain sustenance from

Focuses on the action of gaining nourishment.

get their food from

A very basic way to say the food origin.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "feed on are" in a sentence?

Replace "feed on are" with grammatically correct alternatives like "are fed on" or rephrase to include a direct object after "feed on" such as "feed on plants".

What is a more formal way to say "feed on"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives such as "subsist on", "derive sustenance from", or "consume".

Is "feed on" a passive or active construction?

"Feed on" is an active construction. The passive form would be "are fed on".

What's the difference between "feed on" and "are fed on"?

"Feed on" indicates that a subject is actively consuming something, while "are fed on" indicates that the subject is being consumed by something else.