cattle是單數還是復數?英語可說cattles嗎?請看下面一題:
In fact, _________ one cause that leads to the problem.
A. cattle is B. cattle are C. cattles are D. the cattles are
此題容易誤選A,想當然地認為cattle是單數,并且空格有表單數的one,自然謂語動詞用is。其實,正確答案為B。cattle為集合名詞,盡管它不帶復數詞尾-s,卻永遠表示復數意義,若用作主語,謂語要用復數。又如:
For this many cattle were killed. 為此宰了不少牲畜。
The prisoners were herded like cattle. 囚犯像牲口一樣被趕到一起。
類似地,police,people,police,poultry等也具有同樣用法,即只有單數形式,但卻表示復數意義;用作主語時謂語通常也用復數;不與 a 連用,但可與the連用。如:
The poultry have been fed. 家禽已經喂過飼料了。
In Britain police do not usually carry guns. 在英國警察通常不帶槍。
It annoys me when people forget to say “thank you”. 遇到有人忘記道謝的時候,我就不痛快。
本文來自:逍遙右腦記憶 http://www.yy-art.cn/gaokao/1246940.html
相關閱讀:云南省高考錄取二本分數線