it's fruit / these are fruits
Hi. I've read many posts about uncountable nouns, etc. but I still have some doubts.
A.
For example, when I show a picture with one apple, two oranges and three strawberries, what should I say?
1. These are pieces of fruit.
2. These are fruits.
3. It's fruit.
B.
And what if all fruit(s) is (are) cut? Should I say:
These are cut fruits.
It's cut fruit.
C.
When I show an orange, for example, should I say:
It's a piece of fruit.
??
Wouldn't it mean that it is, e.g. a slice of fruit?
D.
What about a construction "a fruit"? Is it a short from "a type of fruit". I found that in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary. There is an entry that says:
"apple [C or U] a round fruit with a firm white flesh and a green, red or yellow skin"
Could someone please explain all that?
Re: it's fruit / these are fruits
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pedro8686 
Hi. I've read many posts about uncountable nouns, etc. but I still have some doubts.
A.
For example, when I show a picture with one apple, two oranges and three strawberries, what should I say?
1. These are pieces of fruit/s. :up:
2. These are fruits. :up:
3. It's fruit.
B.
And what if all fruit(s) is (are) cut? Should I say:
These are cut fruits.
It's cut fruit.
C.
When I show an orange, for example, should I say:
It's a (type/piece of) fruit.
??
Wouldn't it mean that it is, e.g. a slice of fruit? Not necessarily.
D.
What about a construction "a fruit"? Is it a short from "a type of fruit". I found that in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary. There is an entry that says:
"apple [C or U] a round fruit with a firm white flesh and a green, red or yellow skin"
Could someone please explain all that?
- How many fruits did you eat today?
- I ate three fruits: banana, apple, and melon.
- I ate three fruits: 2 bananas and one apple.
- I ate three pieces of fruit: 2 bananas, and one apple.
- How many pieces of fruit did you eat today?
- I ate 2 bananas and one apple.
- What are those pieces of fruit?
- They are the two halves of the same banana.
- They are two (whole) apples.
Re: it's fruit / these are fruits
Thanks a lot. You've really helped me.
I just wanted to ask one more thing, when I show a picture with one apple, two oranges and three strawberries and I say:
1. These are fruits. - Do I emphasize that there are different kind of fruit?
2. It's fruit. - Can it be used also in this situation. Would it be just a statement without the emphasis?
Re: it's fruit / these are fruits
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pedro8686 Thanks a lot. You've really helped me.
I just wanted to ask one more thing, when I show a picture with one apple, two oranges and three strawberries and I say:
1. These are fruits. - Do I emphasize that there are different kind of fruit?
2. It's fruit. - Can it be used also in this situation. Would it be just a statement without the emphasis?
These are fruits. -- It means either different types or several pieces.
To avoid ambiguity from arising, use 'pieces of' to mean several pieces of fruit.
Also:
They are fruit.
Would you like some fruit?
I am selling fruit. -- in general
I am selling fruits. -- different kinds of fruit
What is this? It is a fruit.
What is a banana? It is a fruit.
What are these? They are fruit(s).
