Countable / Uncountable Words

[jack]

What do these mean?
1. The weather forecast warned of winds of up to 60-miles-an-hour today. (Why is 'winds' plural? What does it mean?)
2. The weather forecast warned of wind of up to 60-miles-an-hour today. (What does this mean?)

TECHNICALLY they are both correct. PRACTICALLY only winds is used. Why? I don't know.... it just came into use with wind..

-M-

[jack]

Thanks.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/defi...1093&dict=CALD

candy:
noun [C or U] US
a sweet food made from sugar or chocolate, or a piece of this:

Are these correct? What do they mean?
1. I have a box of candy. (Why isn't 'candy' 'candies'? Eg. A box of apples. You cannot say A box of apple. Is it because candy is not countable? Why isn't candy countable? )
2. I have a box of candies. (What does this mean? If it is not correct, why?)

So 'candy' is not countable and 'candies' is countable? When would I use 'candy' and 'candies'? Could you give me an example for each of them.

yup, you got it

you can use whatever you want whenever you want as long as it makes grammatical sense

that said, no one uses the phrase 'box of candies', I would stick with 'candy' unless there was a compelling reason otherwise.

He ate a lot of candy - OK (preferred)
He ate a lot of candies - OK
He ate 10 pieces of candy straight from the box - OK (preferred)
He ate 10 candies straight from the box - OK
He ate 10 candy straight from the box - NOT OK

[jack]

Thanks.

that said, no one uses the phrase 'box of candies', I would stick with 'candy' unless there was a compelling reason otherwise.

1. I have a box of candies. (So what does this mean? Candy bars?)
2. I have a box of candy. (How come this is correct though? I have 'box' here, doesn't that make 'candy' plural? What does this sentence mean? Sugar?)

3. I have a box of apple. (Is this incorrect? If so, why? #2 Is correct but this isn't? Does this sentence mean I have a box of apple flesh?)

He ate a lot of candy - OK (preferred)

4. He ate a lot of candy. (Does this mean he ate a lot of sweet stuff?)

He ate a lot of candies - OK

5. He ate a lof ot candies. ('Candies' as in chocolate bars right? Or something that is countable?)

[Casiopea]

candy can be count or non-count:

Non-count: How much candy did you eat? I ate half the jar.
Count: How many candies did you eat? I had only one candy.

[jack]

1. I have a box of candies.

For Eg.:
1. I have a basket of fries.
2. I have a basket of fry. ('fry' is wrong here? Because 'basket' makes 'fry' plural? How come #3 is correct but this is not correct?)

3. I have a box of candy. (How come 'candy' is not candies? I have 'box' here? How come it isn't like #1? )

Originally Posted by jack

For Eg.:
1. I have a basket of fries.
2. I have a basket of fry. ('fry' is wrong here? Because 'basket' makes 'fry' plural? How come #3 is correct but this is not correct?)

3. I have a box of candy. (How come 'candy' is not candies? I have 'box' here? How come it isn't like #1? )

It's an irregular plural. That's about all there is to it. About 80% of learning a second language is learning the system and how *most* words are formed and used. 15% is simply memorizing the irregularities. The last 5% is mere luck and guesswork.

-Nah-

[RonBee]

Re:

4. He ate a lot of candy. (Does this mean he ate a lot of sweet stuff?)

The answer to the question is yes and no, That is, candy is sweet, but it is a particular kind of sweet. Cake, pie, and sweet rolls are sweet, but they are not candy.

[jack]

Thanks.