Indefinite Article

[crazyaboutenglish]

Can anyone tell me why I can say "I'll have a beer" but I can't say "I'll have a milk"?

Also, is it ok to say "I'm thinking to do something" or "I'm thinking to buy something" should it not be "of" or "about" instead of "to"?

Thanks

[Tdol]

a beer = a bottle/glass/pint of beer

In a cafe, you could ask for a milk if they sold it by the glass, bottle, etc.


2 It is OK to use the infinitive there- it could sound a bit more tentative IMO.

[crazyaboutenglish]

Thanks, I was really unsure.

[emsr2d2]

2 It is OK to use the infinitive there- it could sound a bit more tentative IMO.

That's interesting, Tdol. I spent a lot of time with my students in Spain drumming into them that "to think" shouldn't be followed by the infinitive.

I'm thinking about doing that.
I'm thinking of going on holiday.

Are any other teachers hard and fast on this point?

[5jj]

I tell my students that 'thinking about doing' is always correct and natural, and the only possible way when the meaning is 'considering'.

However, it seems to be used by some speakers with the idea of 'planning to do'. I don't like it, and I recommend that my students do not use it, but I would not call it wrong.