cattle是单数还是复数有什么规律?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。事实上，牛是导致这个问题的原因之一。
又如：
Farmer Brown's cattle are branded with the letter B.
农场主布朗的牛都烙上了字母“B”的印记。
After a summer here the poorest sheep and cattle grow strong and fat.
经过一个夏天，连最差的牛羊在这里也长得又肥又壮了。
he cattle are being fattened for slaughter
喂肥牛群以宰杀。
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。
On big farms cattle are usually stamped with brands.
在大农场，牲畜通常是打烙印的。
The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.
那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
Some cattle were drinking at the pool.
有几头牛在那池塘边饮水。
The owner couldn't be bothered to brand the cattle.
主人懒得给牛打烙印。
一头牛要用 a head of cattle
a head of cattle=a cow, twenty head of cattle=twenty cows
两头牛 two cattle
3头 three cattle..
类似地，police，people， poultry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 连用，但可与the连用。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。
In fact, cattle are one cause that leads to the problem.
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