cattle是单复数同形,复数形式也是cattle。cattle,名词,作名词时意为“牛;牲畜(骂人的话);家畜;无价值的人,人名;(意)卡特莱”。
cattle可以用作名词
cattle原意是“财产”,其后转义为“家畜”,常指菜牛或奶牛。在英国通常统指“家畜”,在美国则只指“牛类”。
cattle以单数形式出现,却表示复数的概念。cattle是集合名词,不能加不定冠词a,词尾也不可加s,常和many, few, these, those等连用。用作主语时,句子的谓语动词多用复数。
表示“一头牛”可说one head of cattle,“五头牛”说five head of cattle,在指多头牛时head of也可省去。表示“一群牛”应该用a herd of cattle或herds of cattle。
These cattle are one of the purest breeds in Britain.
这些牛是英国最纯的品种之一。
This particular breed of cattle matures early.
这一品种的牛发育成熟快。
The leaves of certain trees are poisonous to cattle.
某些树的叶子会毒害牲畜。
The cattle were put out to pasture.
牛群放牧在牧场草地上。
The cattle are fed barley.
这些牛要喂大麦。