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Meg2589 Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
I like apples - correct...why? I like pizza (not pizzas) - why?
Why do we use plural object in a sentence given below:
1. I like apples.
2. I like cookies.
3. I like dogs.
Why not using singular form? And why it is incoorect to say:
I like pizzas.
Please explain.
1. I like apples.
2. I like cookies.
3. I like dogs.
Why not using singular form? And why it is incoorect to say:
I like pizzas.
Please explain.
Top answer
Many foodstuffs are considered uncountable when prepared and countable in the field or on the farm: I like apples, chickens, and tomatoes on the farm. I like apple pie (baked apples still look like an apple), roast chicken, and pizza with tomato and pepperoni in the restaurant. Pizza, spaghetti, stew, ham and such dishes don't look much like any countable object anymore, so are considered in the uncountable form.
- Many foodstuffs are considered uncountable when prepared and countable in the field or on the farm: I like apples, chickens, and tomatoes on the farm.
- I like apple pie (baked apples still look like an apple), roast chicken, and pizza with tomato and pepperoni in the restaurant.
- Pizza, spaghetti, stew, ham and such dishes don't look much like any countable object anymore, so are considered in the uncountable form.
- We normally use the plural of countables because it is not any one of them that we like, but the whole set of delicious cookies or cuddly puppies.
- The singular is possible when the concept becomes more intellectualized: 'I like the tiger: it is a mysterious animal'.
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6 Answers
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Many foodstuffs are considered uncountable when prepared and countable in the field or on the farm:
I like apples, chickens, and tomatoes on the farm.
I like apple pie (baked apples still look like an apple), roast chicken, and pizza with tomato and pepperoni in the restaurant.
Pizza, spaghetti, stew, ham and such dishes don't look much like any countable object anymore, s
I like apples, chickens, and tomatoes on the farm.
I like apple pie (baked apples still look like an apple), roast chicken, and pizza with tomato and pepperoni in the restaurant.
Pizza, spaghetti, stew, ham and such dishes don't look much like any countable object anymore, s
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Hi meg
May I chime in?
I think you can say "I like an apple" sometimes depending on the context.
Suppose someone invites you to dinner and you are asked "How about the fruit after dinner?",
then you could say "I like an apple".
If you say "I like apples" in this context, your host will think you are a big eater.
May I chime in?
I think you can say "I like an apple" sometimes depending on the context.
Suppose someone invites you to dinner and you are asked "How about the fruit after dinner?",
then you could say "I like an apple".
If you say "I like apples" in this context, your host will think you are a big eater.
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Sorry, Paco-- I'm not really out to get you, but the situation you have set up would require 'I would like an apple'.
I agree that we wouldn't say 'I would like (some) apples', because that sounds greedy indeed. However, this is a request, a different case from stating likes and dislikes.
In the request, we are considering how many of a specific item we want: 'I'd like
I agree that we wouldn't say 'I would like (some) apples', because that sounds greedy indeed. However, this is a request, a different case from stating likes and dislikes.
In the request, we are considering how many of a specific item we want: 'I'd like
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Also, in addition to what Mr. Micawber posted, I think you use countable nouns to differentiate between nouns with similiar names. For example, "I like oranges," here I'm talking about the fruit and not the color where if I said just "I like orange," you might think I was talking about the color and that the original question was "what is your favorite color?"
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What about eggplant? Don't we say, "Do you like/eat eggplant?"? We don't use an s there and eggplant is grown not prepared.
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