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Zuotengdazuo Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The plural of "fruit"?
Some native speakers told me that the plural form of "fruit" can only be "fruits", while some others told me that both "fruit" and "fruits" can be the plural forms of "fruit".
So I am a little bit confused.
I make the following sentences:
Apples, bananas and grapes are fruit.
Apples, bananas and grapes are fruits.
Apples, bannanas and grapes are three important fruit.
Apples, bannanas and grapes are three important fruits.
It seems that I can use "fruit" and "fruits" interchangeablely when we are talking about different species of fruit.
So are all these sentences correct? Thank you.
So I am a little bit confused.
I make the following sentences:
Apples, bananas and grapes are fruit.
Apples, bananas and grapes are fruits.
Apples, bannanas and grapes are three important fruit.
Apples, bannanas and grapes are three important fruits.
It seems that I can use "fruit" and "fruits" interchangeablely when we are talking about different species of fruit.
So are all these sentences correct? Thank you.
Top answer
In #3 you are counting, so 'fruit' sounds odd. More natural is eg Apples, bananas and grapes are three important kinds of fruit. You can live for years hearing everyday English, and not hear the word 'fruits'.
- In #3 you are counting, so 'fruit' sounds odd.
- More natural is eg Apples, bananas and grapes are three important kinds of fruit.
- You can live for years hearing everyday English, and not hear the word 'fruits'.
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11 Answers
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In #3 you are counting, so 'fruit' sounds odd. More natural is
eg Apples, bananas and grapes are three important kinds of fruit.
You can live for years hearing everyday English, and not hear the word 'fruits'.
eg Apples, bananas and grapes are three important kinds of fruit.
You can live for years hearing everyday English, and not hear the word 'fruits'.
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Cliveand not hear the word 'fruits'.Well, where I live, there are quite the norm.
Eat your fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables should be an important part of your diet.
They need to serve more fruits and vegetables in school cafeterias.
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CliveIn #3 you are counting, so 'fruit' sounds odd. More natural iseg Apples, bananas and grapes are three important kinds of fruit.You can live for years hearing everyday English, and not hear the word 'fruits'.Thank you for your correction, Clive.
So do you mean the #1 ,#2 and #4 are grammatically correct and natural to native speakers' ears, while #3
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Here's how I see it.
#1 correct grammar, and natural.
#2 correct grammar. I find the word 'fruits' unnatural, because I seldom hear it.
#3 correct grammar. But 'three . . . fruit' sounds unnatural to me.
#4 correct grammar. I find the word 'fruits' unnatural, because I seldom hear it.
#1 correct grammar, and natural.
#2 correct grammar. I find the word 'fruits' unnatural, because I seldom hear it.
#3 correct grammar. But 'three . . . fruit' sounds unnatural to me.
#4 correct grammar. I find the word 'fruits' unnatural, because I seldom hear it.
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CliveHere's how I see it.#1 correct grammar, and natural.#2 correct grammar. I find the word 'fruits' unnatural, because I seldom hear it.#3 correct grammar. But 'three . . . fruit' sounds unnatural to me.#4 correct grammar. I find the word 'fruits' unnatural, because I seldom hear it.Thank you. I get it. So "fruit" has two plural forms, right? We usually use
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CliveDo you hear 'fishes' a lot, too?Only in a Cliff Richard song: Your love means more to me than all the fishes swimming in the sea. (Very philosophical!
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Hi Clive
I didn't know the song as I'm not British or from any other country where English is the first language. I did know, however, that fishes is possible after a numeral such as three. I learnt that in high school.
I didn't know the song as I'm not British or from any other country where English is the first language. I did know, however, that fishes is possible after a numeral such as three. I learnt that in high school.
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