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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
breads
Hi,
Let us pretend that I am trying to buy two pieces of bread: one loaf of bowl-shaped bread and another loaf of stick-shaped bread. Could I say this?
I would like to have two breads.
I would like to have two kinds of bread.
How about I attach one more descriptive element describing the nature of the bread like 'wheat' or 'rice', would it make a difference?
one loaf of bowl-shaped wheat bread and another loaf of stick-shaped rice bread
Could I say the same thing as previously?
I would like to have two breads.
I would like to have two kinds of bread.
I think I have a hard time figuring out what are some sort of barometer I can apply to the concept of turning an uncountable noun into a countable noun by making (turning them into?) types or brands.
Let us pretend that I am trying to buy two pieces of bread: one loaf of bowl-shaped bread and another loaf of stick-shaped bread. Could I say this?
I would like to have two breads.
I would like to have two kinds of bread.
How about I attach one more descriptive element describing the nature of the bread like 'wheat' or 'rice', would it make a difference?
one loaf of bowl-shaped wheat bread and another loaf of stick-shaped rice bread
Could I say the same thing as previously?
I would like to have two breads.
I would like to have two kinds of bread.
I think I have a hard time figuring out what are some sort of barometer I can apply to the concept of turning an uncountable noun into a countable noun by making (turning them into?) types or brands.
Top answer
Hi, Note that when we bake bread, what we take out of the oven is a loaf . If we do this twice, what we have on the table is two loaves. We'll sometimes say 'a loaf of bread', but usually just 'a loaf'.
- Hi, Note that when we bake bread, what we take out of the oven is a loaf .
- If we do this twice, what we have on the table is two loaves.
- We'll sometimes say 'a loaf of bread', but usually just 'a loaf'.
- When my wife goes shopping, I might say to her, 'We need a loaf' or 'We need some bread'.
- So, don't say 'a bread', 'two breads', etc.
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4 Answers
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Hi,
Note that when we bake bread, what we take out of the oven is a loaf. If we do this twice, what we have on the table is two loaves. We'll sometimes say 'a loaf of bread', but usually just 'a loaf'.
When my wife goes shopping, I might say to her, 'We need a loaf' or 'We need some bread'.
So, don't say 'a bread', 'two breads', etc.
Let us pr
Note that when we bake bread, what we take out of the oven is a loaf. If we do this twice, what we have on the table is two loaves. We'll sometimes say 'a loaf of bread', but usually just 'a loaf'.
When my wife goes shopping, I might say to her, 'We need a loaf' or 'We need some bread'.
So, don't say 'a bread', 'two breads', etc.
Let us pr
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CliveWhen my wife goes shopping, I might say to her, 'We need a loaf' or 'We need some bread'.Maybe this is a difference between American and Canadian/British usage, but I would never just say "we need a loaf" I would say either 'we need a loaf of bread" or "we need some bread" or "we need bread" or even "we need a bread." I don't know if this is Am
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Hi Khoff,
Wow, I'm really surprised. Talk about two countries divided by a common language!
Clive
Wow, I'm really surprised. Talk about two countries divided by a common language!
Clive
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Well, maybe it's just my own idiosyncrasy. I'd like to hear from other Americans -- CJ, Barb, would you say "we need a bread"? How about "We need a loaf"? (I think we can all agree on "We need a loaf of bread.")
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