The can be merged with cat to give a noun phrase, which other grammar rules can operate on as if it were a bare noun like water.

The与cat合并就能组成一个名词短语，如果只有一个名词（例如water）从语法规则上来说也是可以的。

Some people are also troubled by bare group nouns such as " blacks" , " gays" and " Jews" , though these too seem to be on the decline.

有些人还对“黑人” 、“同性恋者” 和“犹太人” 等光秃秃的群体名词感到困扰，尽管这些名词似乎也在减少。