Candy vs. Candies. Help me please!

Question

Dear TeachersForm a conversation:A: Candy is not healthy. B: Yes, Don’t eat too much candy.A: but candy is my favorite snack. And so are cookies.C: Don’t eat too many cookies and don’t eat too many candies.Q1:Candy seems is uncountable Noun. But Person C, Why did he use the words “too many candies”?Q2Tell me if the usage of candy is same as fish and fruit.Q3Someone told me that:Two fish mean two same kinds of fish.Two fishes mean two different kinds of fishes.Two fruit mean two same kinds of fruit.Two fruits mean two different kinds fruits.So many candies mean many different kinds of candies. Is it true?Thanks a lot.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Jacky56LinA: Candy is not healthy.

B: Yes, Don’t eat too much candy.

A: but candy is my favorite snack. And so are cookies.

C: Don’t eat too many cookies and don’t eat too many candies.

Jacky56LinQ1:

Candy seems is uncountable Noun.

But Person C, Why did he use the words “too many candies”?

Given the context, ... don't eat too much candy would have been better, in my opinion. Nevertheless, candy can be used as a countable as well. There are at least two possible interpretations when an uncountable is used as a countable:

1. Don't eat too many candies. = Don't eat too many kinds of candy.
2. Don't eat too many candies. = Don't eat too many pieces of candy.

I think the speaker had meaning 2 in mind.
____________

Jacky56LinQ2

Tell me if the usage of candy is same as fish and fruit.

No. There are some differences. fishes can mean kinds of fish, but not pieces of fish. The same is true of fruits. You can put a number in front of fish, but not in front of candy or fruit. Five fish -- OK. Five candy -- No. Five fruit -- No.

______________________

Q3

Someone told me that:

Two fish mean two same kinds of fish. -- It can mean that. Yes.

Two fishes mean two different kinds of fishes. -- It often means that. Yes.

Two fruit mean two same kinds of fruit. -- No. two fruit is not a possible combination.

Two fruits mean two different kinds fruits. -- It can mean that. Yes.

So many candies mean many different kinds of candies. Is it true? It can mean that, or it can mean many pieces of the same kind of candy or many pieces of different kinds of candy.

CJ

Doctor D · Answer

Actually, I would have stuck with
"Don't eat too much candy."
That would be the more common expression.

But perhaps the writer wanted to use a parallel form (cookies/candies). So, "candies" in this case refers to "a piece of candy." (The word "candy" means both the general food item and individual pieces of it.)

But "candies" does not tell you whether they are the same or different. "Candies," meaning "pieces of candy" works for either. (Perhaps she is being offered a box of mixed sweets or perhaps they are all chocolate-covered cherries.)

So "candy" and "candies" is not the same as "fish" and "fishes."

I hope this helps.

Jacky56Lin · Answer

Thank you very much. Dear Teachers CJ and Doctor D

As CJ said two fruit is not a possible combination.

I have no problem with that there are two fish on the desk. and I know apples (I mean when I see it I can know how to call them). Now I want to say there are two apples on the desk. (I mean two apples look much alike, they are same kind)

But if I suddenly forget how to call an apple, I just know an apple is one kind of fruit. And I want to describe them as there are two same kinds of fruit on the desk.

Of course before I know two fruit is wrong. I think I will use “there are two fruit on the desk.” to express the same meaning of “There are two apples on the desk.” or” there are two fish on the desk.” But now it seems not.

Q1:

Can you tell me how to use the word “fruit” to describe what I want to say as above meaning?

Thanks again.

Doctor D · Answer

I would say:

There are two pieces of fruit on the desk.

(As opposed to saying "There are two kinds of fruit on the desk.")

CalifJim · Answer

I would do the same as Dr. D. two pieces of fruit

CJ

Jacky56Lin · Answer

Wow! Hurray! So great![<:o)]

Thank you very much. Dear Teachers CJ and Doctor D

I still have some questions: asking for your help.

Q1:

When use general nouns, like two apples, two dogs, and two birds and so on…

Dose “two apples” can mean both” two same kinds of apples” and “two different kinds of apples”?

Q2:

Another question: because apples are general nouns, I can’t write into “” two same kinds of apple” and “two different kinds of apple”, right? (I omit the s.)

Q3:

Two fruits mean two different kinds fruits. -- CJ said: It can mean that. Yes.

I review this sentence again. I seem to make a mistake with ” different kinds fruits.“.

Actually I want to write “different kinds of fruits”, a quick question: If the” different kinds fruits” = “different kinds of fruits”

Q4:

Some people use two kinds of fruit;Some people us two kinds of fruits.

Which is correct? I guess if “two kinds of fruit “mean in numbers they are just equal to two of them. But “two kinds of fruits “mean in numbers they are equal to or more than two of them, Right?

Q5. Can you please tell me some nouns, their usage is same as:

1. Fish (Sheep)…

2. Fruit…

3. Candy…

4. Cake. (Pizza, Pie)…

Thanks a million.

Doctor D · Answer

Q1:
When you are using a general noun like "dog" or "apple," you are counting how many of that general term you have. I have two dogs. I have two apples. Whether or not they are of the same variety is undetermined.

If you want to specify further, then you must add details.
I have two dogs--one black and one brown.
I have two different breeds of dog.

Q2: In the first case, I would put the number next to "apple" not next to "kind."
I have two apples of the same variety (kind).
For the other, I would say:

I have two varieties of apple to choose from.

Q3: Use "kinds of"

Q4:
If you say, "I have two kinds of fruit," you mean you have fruit and it is available in two varieties (an apple and a banana, for example.) You could have boxes of it.

If you want to say that you have two pieces of fruit and they are of different kinds, then you have to spell it out: "I only have two pieces of fruit, an apple and a banana."
If they were of the same kind, you would just say "I have two bananas."

I wouldn't say "I have two kinds of fruits."
You could say "The fruits found in France are of several kinds."

Some other uncountable nouns:
advice
knowledge
bread
deer
hair
A good site for a discussion of count and non-count nouns is here:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/noncount.htm

Jacky56Lin · Answer

Thank you very much. Doctor D

CalifJim · Answer

Jacky56Lin~~Dose~~ Can “two apples” ~~can~~ mean both” two same kinds of apples” and “two different kinds of apples”?

Yes. The words "two apples" does not specify whether the two apples are of the same kind or of different kinds.

If you say, "There are two apples on the table", you have not told me that there are two of the same kind nor that there are two different kinds. I still don't know.

Jacky56LinI can’t write ~~into~~ “” two same kinds of apple” and “two different kinds of apple”, right?

Right. You can't use those phrases. The usual way of communicating these ideas is to name the kind or kinds of apples:

There are two Golden Delicious apples on the table.
There is a McIntosh apple and a Granny Smith apple on the table.

I don't know about how it is where you live, but here people are not usually very interested in knowing so much detailed information about apples on a table! Therefore you will not hear sentences like those very often.

Jacky56LinI seem ~~to make~~ to have made a mistake with "different kinds fruits".

Yes, you did. You need "of".

Jacky56Lin"different kinds fruits” = “different kinds of fruits”

I assumed that's what you meant in spite of the error.

Jacky56LinSome people use two kinds of fruit. Some people use two kinds of fruits. Which is correct?

I only use the first one, but I wouldn't say that the second one is wrong. They both mean the same thing to me.

Jacky56LinI guess if “two kinds of fruit “mean in numbers they are just equal to two of them. But “two kinds of fruits “mean in numbers they are equal to or more than two of them, Right?

No. There is no such complicated difference. They are the same.

CJ

Candy vs. Candies. Help me please!

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions