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)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。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