http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#814620Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:46:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:814620Clive0http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#814620http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-814620.xmlHi, But in real life, when I speak about grocery shopping, I typically say &#39;I bought (some) bananas&#39;. I never say &#39;I bought a bunch/comb/stem of bananas&#39;. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#814455Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:45:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:814455AlpheccaStars1http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#814455http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-814455.xmlThe COCA cites many examples of &quot;bunch(es) of bananas&quot; and one &quot;stem of bananas&quot;. I&#39;ve never heard of a comb of bananas, but it is quite descriptive of the shape and arrangement of a bunch! A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#814341Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:43:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:814341Anonymous2http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#814341http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-814341.xmlThe answer is a hand of bananas actuallyhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249160Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:26:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:249160Anoum3http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249160http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-249160.xmlThank you very much for the responses. Wow, now after some decades, I finally find out that people in America, England, Canada and China don't use the phrase "a comb of bananas"! I am sure all my friends are going to be surprised. Which makes me wonder if that phrase originates locally then?http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249138Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:26:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:249138Clive4http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249138http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-249138.xmlHi Anoum, Welcome to the Forum. 'Bunch' is the common term. I have heard of 'a hand' of bananas, probably because of the resemblance to a hand with fingers. However, such terms are probably only used by people who work on banana ranches, make sure the banana herds don't stampede, that kind of thing. (ha-ha) Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249119Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:26:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:249119Maple5http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249119http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-249119.xmlIn CN, we're not taught by any English teachers to say "a comb of".http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249109Fri, 22 May 2009 21:26:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:249109Grammar Geek6http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249109http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-249109.xmlIin the U.S., I've never hear "comb" used before either.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249096Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:26:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:249096nona the brit7http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htm#249096http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-249096.xmlIn the UK we only use bunch. I'd not heard of comb before.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htmSun, 22 Feb 2009 22:26:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:249076Anoum8http://www.englishforums.com/English/CollectiveNoun/cqlxj/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-249076.xmlCan anyone tell me if the use of "a bunch of bananas" and "a comb of bananas" can be used interchangeably? This was how we used it when I was a school girl but now I am told that "a comb" is only used for the bananas when they are stuck together and actually look like a comb while " a bunch" is only used if many combs of bananas are stuck on the long stalk of the banana plant.