英语词汇:cattle的用法
11-14 22:55:02 浏览次数:
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高中英语词汇
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英语词汇:cattle的用法,
cattle是单数还是复数?英语可说cattles吗?请看下面一题:
In fact, _________ one cause that leads to the problem.
A. cattle is B. cattle are C. cattles are D. the cattles are
此题容易误选A,想当然地认为cattle是单数,并且空格有表单数的one,自然谓语动词用is。其实,正确答案为B。cattle(牲畜,牛)为集合名词,尽管它不带复数词尾-s,却永远表示复数意义,若用作主语,谓语要用复数。又如:
For this many cattle were killed. 为此宰了不少牲畜。
The prisoners were herded like cattle. 囚犯像牲口一样被赶到一起。
类似地,police(警察),people(人),police(警察),poultry(家禽)等也具有同样用法,即只有单数形式,但却表示复数意义;用作主语时谓语通常也用复数;不与 a(n) 连用,但可与the连用(表示总括意义和特指)。如:
The poultry have been fed. 家禽已经喂过饲料了。
In Britain police do not usually carry guns. 在英国警察通常不带枪。
It annoys me when people forget to say “thank you”. 遇到有人忘记道谢的时候,我就不痛快。