Is the sentence OK?

Question

A food from my university's cafeteria brought on a stomachache.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Anonymous A food from my university's cafeteria brought on a stomachache.

"a food" like that at the beginning is not idiomatic English, but the rest is pretty good. I would say it and write it like this:

Something I ate at the university cafeteria gave me a stomach ache.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your correct.
I have another question. Why shouldn't I put "a food" on the beginning?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhy shouldn't I put "a food" on the beginning?

Because English speakers don't say 'a food' in that context. If you do, you will sound like a foreigner who doesn't know how to speak English. We are more likely to use 'food' as a non-countable noun.

The fact that it's at the beginning in your sentence is just coincidence.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

I see. (-:
I understand you said it was unnatural, right?

When do you use "a food" while talking?

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousyou said it was unnatural, right?

Yes, I did say that.

AnonymousWhen do you use "a food" while talking?

In 99% of the uses of "a food", "food" is a noun modifier of something else. The most common are a food processor, a food source, a food bank, a food allergy, a food supply, a food supplement.

I don't think I use "a food" by itself, meaning a particular kind of food. It sounds fairly abstract to me, maybe something a doctor might use:

Is there a food that you have a very negative reaction to?

Or a scientist might use "a food", meaning generally "any food".

The faster a food freezes, the smaller the ice crystals that form on it will be.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much for replying exactly many times over.

You know I'm improving my English so I'm sorry if you felt something bad to my questions.

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