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Fireflysaigon Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Desert shrub

I know that "shrub" is a countable noun. However, I still find that people use "shrub" with "s" and no "s". I have learned this from many articles on some webs. Just type "desert shrub" and you will find them. I want to ask one more question. "Desert shrub have tiny leaves that lose little moisture on a hot day". Is this sentence correct? "shrub" here is used without "s". Many thanks.
  

Top answer

" is wrong. " "shrub" is, as you say, a countable noun and follows the usual rules for such nouns. The Internet is littered with typo-ridden and faulty English, so it's no big surprise that you found some examples.

— Mr Wordy

  • " is wrong.
  • " "shrub" is, as you say, a countable noun and follows the usual rules for such nouns.
  • The Internet is littered with typo-ridden and faulty English, so it's no big surprise that you found some examples.
  • I'm wondering, though, if you some of the instances you noticed are legitimate uses of the singular "shrub" that might appear wrong at first glance.
  • For example, in Google News Search I see: "Desert shrub may offer diesel fuel alternative" -- this is a "telegraphic" style of English in which articles (and sometimes other "small words") are omitted.
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2 Answers
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"Desert shrub have tiny leaves..." is wrong. It should be "Desert shrubs have..." "shrub" is, as you say, a countable noun and follows the usual rules for such nouns. The Internet is littered with typo-ridden and faulty English, so it's no big surprise that you found some examples.

I'm wondering, though, if you some of the instances you noticed are legitimate uses of the singular
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Many thanks for your detail answer. I got it.
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