#1  
Old 13-Mar-2003, 10:32
xanana
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default General statement relating to food ?

Group A

I don't take cocaine.
I don't take meat.

--

Group B
I don't take vegetables.
I don't take eggs.
I don't take drugs

--

In Group A; there is no s after the food noun.
In Group B; there is an s after every food noun.
When do you decide to add the s ?

Thanks
  #2  
Old 13-Mar-2003, 23:47
Red5's Avatar
Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,166
Home Country: England
Native Language: British English
Current Location: England
Member Type: Interested in Language
Default

I'm sure this is something to do with whether the noun is countable or not.

You can have one egg, and three vegetables. However, you couldn't have one cocaine, or fifteen meat.

I will have to let the teachers here comment on this further.
__________________
Red5
Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com
  #3  
Old 14-Mar-2003, 15:39
Anonymous
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I'm sure this is something to do with whether the noun is countable or not. <<<<

Definitely. We can count eggs, but we can't count meat.

http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/count-noun.html

http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary...able-noun.html

http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/mass-noun.html
  #4  
Old 14-Mar-2003, 21:25
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 34,371
Home Country: UK
Native Language: British English
Current Location: Philippines
Member Type: English Teacher
Default

Cocaine is a powder and meat is a substance, so neither can be counted. You can, of course, count grammes of cocaine and pieces of meat. Meat could have a plural if you were thinking of the different kinds, which is not the case in this sentence. If cocaine has different types, then it could take a plural. I'm afraid I don't know and have never heard it used in the plural. :D
  #5  
Old 15-Mar-2003, 05:01
Anonymous
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
Cocaine is a powder and meat is a substance, so neither can be counted. You can, of course, count grammes of cocaine and pieces of meats. Meat could have a plural if you were thinking of the different kinds, which is not the case in this sentence. If cocaine has different types, then it could take a plural. I'm afraid I don't know and have never heard it used in the plural. :D
I thought of "pieces of meat", but I didn't write it.



Nevertheless - 8) :)
  #6  
Old 15-Mar-2003, 05:04
Anonymous
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
Cocaine is a powder and meat is a substance, so neither can be counted. You can, of course, count grammes of cocaine and pieces of meats. Meat could have a plural if you were thinking of the different kinds, which is not the case in this sentence. If cocaine has different types, then it could take a plural. I'm afraid I don't know and have never heard it used in the plural. :D
"You can't have your pudding until you eat your meat. How can you have pudding if you don't eat your meat."

It was something like that. Right?
  #7  
Old 16-Mar-2003, 22:44
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 34,371
Home Country: UK
Native Language: British English
Current Location: Philippines
Member Type: English Teacher
Default

Possibly: I'm not sure.
Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Tags
general, statement, relating, food


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
I suggest you to eat these food more seagirl General Language Discussions 2 12-Oct-2004 16:56
SURVEY: How do you think of GM food? whisper General Language Discussions 2 14-Sep-2004 13:56
the thesis statement Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 28-Jun-2004 23:51
Personal Statement blacky Ask a Teacher 4 31-Dec-2003 12:25


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:54.



Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.