LL-L "Grammar" 2005.03.25 (04) [E]

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From: Leslie Decker <leslie at volny.cz>
Subject: LL-L "Grammar" 2005.03.23 (08) [E]

Gary wrote:

> And as to cattle - sorry I'm tired and I want to go to bed so can't
> say who
> mentioned it - was it you
> Kevin??? - I would never say 2 cattle. 2 cows yes, but 'cattle' for me
> means
> a whole herd, so an uncountable amount (or at least an amount not worth
> counting, unless I was particularly bored...)
>
> Gary :)

I have to say I agree with both of  you here.  I would never say 'two
cattle', but at the same time, I would say 'the cattle are' not 'the
cattle is, ' which automatically disqualifies the word from being a mass
noun, IMHO (yes, I know, I speak American English.  I prefer the term
'uncountable' to 'mass' noun, too).  But then again, I'm just a farmer's
daughter who happens to also be an English teacher. ;-)

Leslie Decker

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Grammar

Now, Leslie, kudos to you for an astute observation!  This is another
piece of evidence why in this arena many cooks cook delicious broth.

I agree with the "uncountable" choice.

I *have* heard some people use "is" with "cattle," so it seems that in
some dialects it *is* a mass noun.  Note that many people say "are" with
organizations (especially in non-American English).  I wonder if "are"
with uncountable "cattle" is a similar case.

Low Saxon _vey_ (<Veh>) and German _Vieh_ for 'cattle' is also treated in
the "cattle are" fashion.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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