?? 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(牲畜，牛)牲畜，牛為集合名詞，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(警察)，people(人)，police(警察)，poultry(家禽)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(n) 連用，但可與the連用(表示總括意義和特指)。如：The poultry have been fed. 家禽已經喂過飼料了。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