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Anoum Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Collective noun

Can anyone tell me if the use of "a bunch of bananas" and "a comb of bananas" can be used interchangeably? This was how we used it when I was a school girl but now I am told that "a comb" is only used for the bananas when they are stuck together and actually look like a comb while " a bunch" is only used if many combs of bananas are stuck on the long stalk of the banana plant.
  

Top answer

In the UK we only use bunch. I'd not heard of comb before.

— Nona the brit

  • In the UK we only use bunch.
  • I'd not heard of comb before.
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15 Answers
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In the UK we only use bunch. I'd not heard of comb before.
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Iin the U.S., I've never hear "comb" used before either.
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In CN, we're not taught by any English teachers to say "a comb of".
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Hi Anoum,

Welcome to the Forum.

'Bunch' is the common term.

I have heard of 'a hand' of bananas, probably because of the resemblance to a hand with fingers. However, such terms are probably only used by people who work on banana ranches, make sure the banana herds don't stampede, that kind of thing. (ha-ha)

Best wishes, Clive
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Thank you very much for the responses. Wow, now after some decades, I finally find out that people in America, England, Canada and China don't use the phrase "a comb of bananas"! I am sure all my friends are going to be surprised.

Which makes me wonder if that phrase originates locally then?
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The answer is a hand of bananas actually
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The COCA cites many examples of "bunch(es) of bananas" and one "stem of bananas".
I've never heard of a comb of bananas, but it is quite descriptive of the shape and arrangement of a bunch!

A-
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Hi,

But in real life, when I speak about grocery shopping, I typically say 'I bought (some) bananas'.

I never say 'I bought a bunch/comb/stem of bananas'.
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I remember Harry Belanfonte sing "one hand, two hand, three hand bunch" in The Banana Boat Song. Was he refferring to 5, 10, 15 "bunches" of 20-odd banana or 5, 10, 15 "bunches" of a hundred or more bananas?
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'Comb of bananas' though less heard of than 'a bunch of bananas' is however correct English.
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