[Grammar] ... different kinds of + singular or plural n

[kadioguy]

a. People like different kinds of pizza.
b. They offer three kinds of drinks.
c. They sell all kinds of flowers.
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The noun in (a) is singular, whereas in (b) and in (c), plural. Could you tell me why?

Quoted from Let's Talk in English

 

[jutfrank]

The direct answer to your question is that the speaker is being inconsistent.

In my view, b and c are incorrect. Both of the nouns should be in the singular form.

Now, I anticipate some members here saying that the plural forms in b and c are also acceptable. I will certainly agree that they do sound natural, and that lots of people would use them, and on most days I would agree that they are acceptable. However, I will argue that they are incorrect on an analytical level, and that they ought to be avoided.

 

[teechar]

a. People like different kinds of pizza.

This one is okay to me. The word "pizza" is used in the abstract sense. In other words, we are not referring to individual pizzas here; we are talking about pizza as a food, in the same way as we talk about, for example, bread.

b. They offer three kinds of drinks.

Either one is acceptable. Again, "drink" can be interpreted in its abstract sense. For example,
There was plenty of food and drink at the party.

c.T

hey sell all kinds of flowers.

This one is correct because "flower" has limited use in an abstract sense.

By the way, check out the ngram for the various possibilities.

https://books.google.com/ngrams

 

[jutfrank]

There were flowers of all kinds.

This is correct. There were multiple flowers, so we need a plural noun. These flowers came in different kinds, so also plural.

I like all kinds of flower.

This is correct. Flower is one class of thing, of which there are many things.

I like all kinds of flowers.

This is incorrect. Unless you mean that flowers refers to two or more classes of thing, (which you almost certainly don't.)


When referring to dahlia pinnata, I might say I like this kind of flower. I would not say I like this kind of flowers. I am thinking of one specific kind.

If referring to both dahlia pinnata and helianthus annuus, it would be incorrect to say I like these kinds of flowers. We need pluralise the thing that there are two of, which is kinds, not flowers. We are not talking about two flowers.

one kind of flower
two kinds of flower
three kinds of flower
...

Again, I want to make it clear that I'm thinking about this analytically and I thought I would explain my reasoning. I'm not trying to tell people what they should or should not say, but that if I were doing that, this would be the reasoning I would give.

 

[GoesStation]

The singular would be unnatural in b and c in American English.

 

[kadioguy]

Again, I want to make it clear that I'm thinking about this analytically and I thought I would explain my reasoning. I'm not trying to tell people what they should or should not say, but that if I were doing that, this would be the reasoning I would give.

It seems to me that the "that" should be omitted.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or should not say, but that if I were doing that, this would be the reasoning I would give.

It seems to me that the "that" should be omitted.

I disagree, kadioguy.

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or not say. I'm trying to tell people that if I were doing that, this would the reasoning ...

 

[kadioguy]

I disagree, kadioguy.

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or not say. I'm trying to tell people that if I were doing that, this would the reasoning ...

Thanks, emsr2d2. I didn't thought it could be understood that way.

Strange to say, I think the following would also work:

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or should not say, but (omit 'that') if I were doing that, this would be the reasoning I would give.

 

[jutfrank]

It seems to me that the "that" should be omitted.

Actually, you're absolutely right. That was a mistake on my part. Using that doesn't have the sense I wanted. Well done for noticing that.

 

[lagoo]

I will certainly agree that they do sound natural, and that lots of people would use them, and on most days I would agree that they are acceptable. However, I will argue that they are incorrect on an analytical level, and that they ought to be avoided.

Is there a hidden if-condition in the use of the bold "would"?

 

[jutfrank]

Is there a hidden if-condition in the use of the bold "would"?

If you want to see it like that, yes. If the opportunity arose, people would use them.