ordering drink in a restuarant

[queeniech]

If we order drink in a resturant, is the 'some' optional before the drink?

A: What would you like?
B: I'd like some juice/coffe/Cola.

In the examination, is it correct to omit the 'some'?

Thanks.

 

[5jj]

The most natural thing to ask for is a juice, coffee or, if you really must, cola.

 

[queeniech]

The most natural thing to ask for is a juice, coffee or, if you really must, cola,

Thanks 5jj

Quoted "if you really must, cola"

Do you mean we can say " I'd like cola" ? I saw "I'd like some juice" in the text book. My child told me that the teacher asked the students to add 'some' before drink. Do you think the teacher is correct?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks 5jj

Quoted "if you really must, cola"

Do you mean we can say " I'd like cola" ? I saw "I'd like some juice" in the text book. My child told me that the teacher asked the students to add 'some' before drink. Do you think the teacher is correct?

There are probably some teachers out there who object to the use of "a juice", "a coffee", or "a cola". "Some" would be correct for all of them, so it is probably a safer choice for an examination.

 

[5jj]

There are probably some teachers out there who object to the use of "a juice", "a coffee", or "a cola". "Some" would be correct for all of them, so it is probably a safer choice for an examination.

AmE must be different from BrE here.

In BrE, 'I'd like a juice/cola/coffee'' said in a restaurant is taken to mean 'I'd like a glass or bottle of juice/a cup of coffee/a glass or bottle of cola'. This would present no problem in any examination.

 

[MikeNewYork]

AmE must be different from BrE here.

In BrE, 'I'd like a juice/cola/coffee'' said in a restaurant is taken to mean 'I'd like a glass or bottle of juice/a cup of coffee/a glass or bottle of cola'. This would present no problem in any examination.

That is use very common in AmE also. Some teachers, however, are still pretty cranky about "modern" usage.

 

[5jj]

It's not 'modern' in BrE. It's natural.

 

[emsr2d2]

If we order a drink in a restaurant, is the 'some' optional before the drink?

A: What would you like?
B: I'd like some juice/coffee/cola.

In the examination, is it correct to omit the 'some'?

Thanks.

Note my corrections to your post. Take care with your spelling - check it before you actually post. Note that if you are using a brand name (Coca-Cola or Pepsi Cola) then capitalisation is appropriate. If you are simply asking for the type of drink which those two brands refer to, then it's just "cola". You can also capitalise "Coke" as long as you mean "Coca-Cola".

 

[queeniech]

The following dialouges are copied from two different textbooks published by Longman:

1. Book A

Mother: Here's the menu.
What would you like?
Son: I'd like some spaghetti, please.

2. Book B

Mother: Look at the menu, Bob.
What would you like?
Son: I'd like macaroni.

Is "some" optional in the above contexts?

Thanks.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The following dialouges are copied from two different textbooks published by Longman:

1. Book A

Mother: Here's the menu.
What would you like?
Son: I'd like some spaghetti, please.

2. Book B

Mother: Look at the menu, Bob.
What would you like?
Son: I'd like macaroni.

Is "some" optional in the above contexts?

Thanks.

Yes. This is different from the other situation. Nobody asks for "a" spaghetti or "a" macaroni. We can have some spaghetti/macaroni or just spaghetti/macaroni.

 

[queeniech]

Yes. This is different from the other situation. Nobody asks for "a" spaghetti or "a" macaroni. We can have some spaghetti/macaroni or just spaghetti/macaroni.

Thanks Mike

If we change the speakers from "mother and son" to "waiter and customer", is it natural to say "some" in the following dialogue?

Waiter: What would you like, Sir?
Customer: I'd like some spaghetti, please.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks Mike

If we change the speaker from "mother and son" to "waiter and customer", is it weird to say "some" in the following dialogue?

Waiter: What would you like, Sir?
Customer: I'd like some spaghetti, please.

No, that would be fine. Many restaurants have more that one type of spaghetti, however. If that is the case, one would have to specify the actual dish. Then you would likely hear: "I'll have spaghetti bolognese/carbonara/marinara" or I'll have the spaghetti bolognese/carbonara/marinara". You could use "some" before that, but it is not needed.

 

[anhnha]

Yes. This is different from the other situation. Nobody asks for "a" spaghetti or "a" macaroni. We can have some spaghetti/macaroni or just spaghetti/macaroni.

I am curious to know why we can't use "a spaghetti" or "a macaroni" to mean "a bowl of spaghetti" or " a bowl of macaroni".

 

[emsr2d2]

As is so often the answer in English, we just don't. There is some logic there though - we don't order "a bowl of spaghetti" or a "plate of macaroni" either. We order the actual food by the name on the menu - spaghetti bolognese, macaroni cheese, penne arrabiata etc. We do however order "a cup of tea" or "a mug of coffee". Those have simply been shortened to "a coffee/tea".