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beachboy

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a) a chocolate box
b) a box of chocolate
c) a box of chocolates
d) a box of cigar
e) a box of cigars
Which sentences are right?
 

bhaisahab

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a) a chocolate box
b) a box of chocolate
c) a box of chocolates
d) a box of cigar
e) a box of cigars
Which sentences are right?
a), c) and e) are correct, none of them are sentences.
 

5jj

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a) a chocolate box - a box in which you keep chocolate
b) a box of chocolate- a box containing chocolates
c) a box of chocolates - a box containing chocolate-covered sweets
d) [STRIKE]a box of cigar[/STRIKE]
e) a box of cigars- a box containing cigars
f) a cigar box - a box in which you keep cigars


a and f may have nothing in them at the moment of speaking.
 

SoothingDave

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I would interpret "a chocolate box" as a box made out of chocolate.
 

TheParser

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a) a chocolate box
b) a box of chocolate
c) a box of chocolates
d) a box of cigar
e) a box of cigars
Which sentences are right?


NOT A TEACHER

This non-teacher respectfully offers these ideas:

(a) She sent a chocolate box to each of her friends. (That is, a box made of chocolate. What a delicious gift!)

(b) I would avoid this phrase.

(c) The teacher is very popular because every Friday he brings a big box of
chocolates to class as a reward for the students' hard work that week.

(d) I would avoid this phrase.

(e) He has just returned from Cuba with a box of Havana cigars.
 

5jj

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I would interpret "a chocolate box" as a box made out of chocolate.
I agree that that's possible, though the expression with this meaning would be be stressed differently from the expression meaning a box in which you keep chocolate.
 

Barb_D

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I would have assumed a box made out of chocolates.

Oddly:
A cookie jar = a decorative container for cookies
A candy dish = a dish you keep candies on

But
A chocolate box = a box made from chocolate. I've never heard of a box just for keeping chocolates in it. I wish I did. And I wish some magic elf kept it full all the time.
 

5jj

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I've never heard of a box just for keeping chocolates in it.
I haven't come across many - but then I haven't come across many boxes made out of chocolate, either.
 

SoothingDave

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I agree that that's possible, though the expression with this meaning would be be stressed differently from the expression meaning a box in which you keep chocolate.

I would think of plural "chocolates" if I had a box of treats made from chocolate.
 

5jj

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I would think of plural "chocolates" if I had a box of treats made from chocolate.
I agree, but it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that a person might want to store chocolate bars in a box, taking one a day from the chocolate box or box of chocolate.
 
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