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Lucas21c Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
One head of cattle
When we count the number of cattle, we would say, "three head of cattle" or "twenty head of cattle." But, could I say, "one head of cattle"? This question occurs if the number of cattle is only one because the measure noun, "head", is plural. Could you tell me whether "one head of cattle" is right?
Top answer
"Cattle" is a collective countable noun with no singular form, so when we want to count individuals we use the idiom "head of cattle," meaning to count each head. ) "One head of cattle" is unambiguous, but it's almost never used, probably because the collective noun clashes with a singular instance. "
- "Cattle" is a collective countable noun with no singular form, so when we want to count individuals we use the idiom "head of cattle," meaning to count each head.
- ) "One head of cattle" is unambiguous, but it's almost never used, probably because the collective noun clashes with a singular instance.
- "
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"Cattle" is a collective countable noun with no singular form, so when we want to count individuals we use the idiom "head of cattle," meaning to count each head. (Although I'm given to understand that calves don't get counted even though they have heads.) "One head of cattle" is unambiguous, but it's almost never used, probably because the collective noun clashes with a singular instance. Say
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