Why do we use the singular...

[Charyan2]

Why do we use the singular instead of the plural in the sentence "What is the best time to hunt wild boar?".

Thanks.

 

[Florentia52]

Welcome to the forum, Charyan2.

Which word in the sentence are you asking about?

 

[Enquiring Mind]

Hi Charyan, have a look at #15 here. In technical hunting jargon, the plural of boar is boar. (Sorry to be a bore.)
[Cross-posted]

 

[Charyan2]

Sorry, I meant "boar". I imagine more than one boar would be hunted in a single outing (or maybe not, I've never been), so why do we use the singular?

 

[Charyan2]

Thanks! I actually saw that somewhere else but just wanted to double check. Cheers

 

[Enquiring Mind]

Generic term for animals considered en masse. What are you fishing for? Trout. What are you hunting? Boar. What do you see on the plain over there? Zebra. What do bison do in winter? They migrate south.

 

[Charyan2]

Ok, but then why do we say, for example, "I like cats" and not "I like cat"?

 

[Loob]

Erm ... because the plural of "cat" is "cats" whereas the plural of "boar" is "boar"?

 

[Enquiring Mind]

Well, sort of "wild animals" that you might want to shoot in the name of sport, not the cute fluffy kind that you don't want to shoot (unless it's that one that keeps defecating on your lawn, of course).

 

[Smauler]

Because most of the time hunting terminology does not apply. For animals that are hunted, or fished especially, the singular is used for the plural in other cases. "I ate two mackerel today" is fine, for example.

With reference to zebra, it's complicated. http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1780273