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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Can it be applied here too?
Hi,
I think we can say, "I like potato", as well as "I like a potato," depending on which angle (?) you are looking at it from -- from its '-ness' view point or its 'substance' view point.
I think the same can be applied for 'steak' and 'salad'.
BUT, when you are in a restaurant and ordering, can you say that in the same way?
Q: What would you like to order?
A: I would like to have potato (or a potato???).
I would like to have steak (or a steak???).
I would like to have salad (or a salad???).
I think we can say, "I like potato", as well as "I like a potato," depending on which angle (?) you are looking at it from -- from its '-ness' view point or its 'substance' view point.
I think the same can be applied for 'steak' and 'salad'.
BUT, when you are in a restaurant and ordering, can you say that in the same way?
Q: What would you like to order?
A: I would like to have potato (or a potato???).
I would like to have steak (or a steak???).
I would like to have salad (or a salad???).
Top answer
I think the problem with saying "I would like to have steak," in a restaraunt is that you'd be asked to specify- which steak? " In either case the sentence would be interpreted as vague. And I am assuming of course that there is more than one steak on the menu (and in that case you'd probably use 'the steak' instead of 'a steak').
- I think the problem with saying "I would like to have steak," in a restaraunt is that you'd be asked to specify- which steak?
- " In either case the sentence would be interpreted as vague.
- And I am assuming of course that there is more than one steak on the menu (and in that case you'd probably use 'the steak' instead of 'a steak').
- Hope that helps.
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2 Answers
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I think the problem with saying "I would like to have steak," in a restaraunt is that you'd be asked to specify- which steak? However you would have the same problem were you just to use the indefinite article as well, "I would like to have a steak." In either case the sentence would be interpreted as vague. And I am assuming of course that there is more than one steak on the menu (and in
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BelieverHi,
I think we can say, "I like potato", as well as "I like a potato," depending on which angle (?) you are looking at it from -- from its '-ness' view point or its 'substance' view point.
I think the same can be applied for 'steak' and 'salad'.
BUT, when you are in a restaurant and ordering, can you say that in the same way?
Q
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