The word "meat" - mass noun?

Question

Hi. When do we use these phrases in sentences? How are they different? I think the words "a meat" means a type or brand of meat.

different meats

different meat

different kinds of meats

different kinds of meat

If we say, "There are meats in the sandwich", does that mean there are different types of meat (meats?) in there like salami, pepperoni, pork, chicken? I think there are names for beef that are from different parts of a cow? Not knowing any better, I think the word "beef" is a mass noun and if I am not mistakne, it could be used in the same sense as "meat," at least for the purpose of asking the questions here. Could they be categorized into types as for "types" for mass nouns?

Could a person say, "In the sandwich, there are meats (different types of meat?), cheeses (different types of cheese like American and Swiss? - capitalize names?), lettuce, tomato and some mayonnaise"?

Thank you for your anticipated help.

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI think the words "a meat" means a type or brand of meat.

Correct.

In everyday English, "meat" as a countable noun (with plural "meats") is much less common than "meat" as uncountable noun (mass noun). If in doubt, use the uncountable form.

"different meats" -- means "different types/kinds of meat"

"different meat" -- possible, but would usually mean "meat that's different from some other type of meat that's been mentioned" rather than "(an assortment of) different types of meat"

"different kinds of meats" -- possible

"different kinds of meat" -- fine; also "different types of meat"

AnonymousIf we say, "There are meats in the sandwich", does that mean there are different types of meat (meats?) in there like salami, pepperoni, pork, chicken?

Yes, that's how I'd understand it, but something like "There are various different types of meat in the sandwich" is much more likely in everyday English.

AnonymousI think the word "beef" is a mass noun and if I am not mistakne, it could be used in the same sense as "meat," at least for the purpose of asking the questions here.

"beef" (in this sense) is almost always an uncountable noun (even more so than "meat"). The countable sense ("a beef", "different beefs") is no doubt used on occasion, but it's rare (he-he).

AnonymousCould they be categorized into types as for "types" for mass nouns?

Sorry, I don't understand the question.

AnonymousCould a person say, "In the sandwich, there are meats (different types of meat?), cheeses (different types of cheese like American and Swiss? - capitalize names?), lettuce, tomato and some mayonnaise"?

Yes, it's possible.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi. Thank you. It is hard to fanthom where or in which sentential ituations we would use the phrases "different kinds of meats" and "different kinds of meat"? I think the concept (if I could call it that) involved is similar to the concept involving phrases "different kinds of apples" and "different kinds of apple." And it is hard to fanthom where and in which sentential situations we would use the two latter-mentioned phrases too. Please help.

How are they different?

They sent a buyer to buy different kinds of meats/different kinds of meat.

and

They sent a buyer to buy different kinds of apples/different kinds of apple.

Mister Micawber · Answer

The best idea is to go looking:

5,430 for "http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/different&r=67&ei=gw8_St3IJqKQ6AOssJyrDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=1&ei=gw8_St3IJqKQ6AOssJyrDg&sig2=B6y4DewdJlc7kTbs3LVzEw&usg=AFQjCNErHOSkedEvF4749Y5LJxVsBX6ZAA http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/kinds&r=67&ei=gw8_St3IJqKQ6AOssJyrDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=2&ei=gw8_St3IJqKQ6AOssJyrDg&sig2=8vu1ji5_9IdQXUe5RwLwug&usg=AFQjCNGHve5riNxFpLzUmmBqSVaH6s2VLg of http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/meats&r=67&ei=gw8_St3IJqKQ6AOssJyrDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=3&ei=gw8_St3IJqKQ6AOssJyrDg&sig2=PojULYHB6_ub34yVpsBRYg&usg=AFQjCNH2baOAA6v2PjDjHySSkZR1rLI4hA": Effect of cooking and supplementation with different kinds of meats on the nutritional value of mash (Vigna mungo).

40,800 for "http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/different&r=67&ei=IxA_SqW1OJGekQWW-fWzDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=1&ei=IxA_SqW1OJGekQWW-fWzDg&sig2=8N-Pxg12yhyDboBUs13DpA&usg=AFQjCNH7T64tWnrZ7_POcqVIJ91HvWhDQA http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/kinds&r=67&ei=IxA_SqW1OJGekQWW-fWzDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=2&ei=IxA_SqW1OJGekQWW-fWzDg&sig2=mU9MDprKEl-kfDyunlYYAw&usg=AFQjCNFm39WuRGlj4l_LMEn-Vd0UqxqWUA of http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/meat&r=67&ei=IxA_SqW1OJGekQWW-fWzDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=3&ei=IxA_SqW1OJGekQWW-fWzDg&sig2=ndfgVT3Fnz392YyyQpKpWQ&usg=AFQjCNECTBHv_fm8d7xX1nXheHwBru7o_w": Six different kinds of meat were plated alongside token servings of scalloped potatoes and rice. We counted the meat together: bacon, sausage, veal and pork meat patties (pljeskavica), chicken and pork shishkebabs, smoked pork neck (dimljena vjesalica), and finally, uncased ground veal and pork sausage (cevapcici).

27,000 for "http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/different&r=67&ei=CRE_Sqn0L4qBkQWxvPW4Dg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=1&ei=CRE_Sqn0L4qBkQWxvPW4Dg&sig2=lwYbwsEXA21_eHYjud9YYg&usg=AFQjCNFL0TizDLGln6t5QhI4azrsdRtqOA http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/kinds&r=67&ei=CRE_Sqn0L4qBkQWxvPW4Dg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=2&ei=CRE_Sqn0L4qBkQWxvPW4Dg&sig2=p0RY05gABfoahY7OZP1vUw&usg=AFQjCNH86U6psdcE840XOunZ0OY90-7vHg of http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/apples&r=67&ei=CRE_Sqn0L4qBkQWxvPW4Dg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=3&ei=CRE_Sqn0L4qBkQWxvPW4Dg&sig2=RFyjqlS1iXMyIQzdzd3hGg&usg=AFQjCNGK8VozCJPOujTAWafmRKd6B_PBoQ": A farmer can join two or more plants to form a single living plant, so an apple tree can produce several different kinds of apples through grafting.

26,500 for "http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/different&r=67&ei=wRE_StKVNoXe7AOkytGzDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=1&ei=wRE_StKVNoXe7AOkytGzDg&sig2=KvHZXW-wT3hpIlkyjhAEvg&usg=AFQjCNE7p7XF_xBz9qJ24IjzmeJd6n29vQ http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/kinds&r=67&ei=wRE_StKVNoXe7AOkytGzDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=2&ei=wRE_StKVNoXe7AOkytGzDg&sig2=eStYty60eOihmJRz0A7Apw&usg=AFQjCNE0bpeRHyQ9FcSHFaTWNrLi6mAVQg of http://www.google.co.jp/url?q=http://www.answers.com/apple&r=67&ei=wRE_StKVNoXe7AOkytGzDg&sa=X&oi=dict&ct=D&cd=3&ei=wRE_StKVNoXe7AOkytGzDg&sig2=hn4sZfIKheJ9JHGp5w3E0g&usg=AFQjCNFriPKQQZ1NzNtADy_5WTqQfuIHhg: It was observed (about 3-4 years ago) that the different kinds of apple have a different efficiency for restoring hair color--"Golden Delicious" apples are better then others.

Google searches are useful for this sort of thing; however, you must review the individual instances carefully. All of the examples above came from reputable sources, but the hit number for 'different kind of apple' is unrealistically large: most hits are on 'different kinds of apple trees/pies/cider/etc'.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Mr. M and Mr Wordy, for providing me with a very good help.

Mr Wordy · Answer

Anonymous
How are they different?

They sent a buyer to buy different kinds of meats/different kinds of meat.

and

They sent a buyer to buy different kinds of apples/different kinds of apple.

To me there is no difference at all between "different kinds of apple" and "different kinds of apples". The same is true of most countable nouns. I generally prefer to use the singular.

However, there is to me a potential slight difference between "different kinds of meat" and "different kinds of meats". Because "meats" is a less common word, I'd need a specific reason to use it. I'd tend to use the version with "meats" when talking about prepared meats (such as you might find at a delicatessen) rather than the generic substances such as beef, lamb, pork etc. that you find in slabs on a butcher's counter. Other people may not feel the same, though, and may use the two versions interchangeably.

The word "meat" - mass noun?

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