two types of something

Question

I have heard both of the following:  1. There are two types of apple.  2. There are two types of apples.  (plural of apple)  Which is more correct? Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Both are OK, though purists like to see plurals with plurals and singular with singular:

There is one type of apple.
There are two types of apples.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister Micawber Both are OK, though purists like to see plurals with plurals and singular with singular:

There is one type of apple.
There are two types of apples.

Thanks. How about if there is only one apple in each bag, which should I say:

1. There are two bags of apple. OR
2. There are two bags of apples.

CalifJim · Answer

Mr. Micawber? Are you here?
Hmmm. While he's away, let me put my two cents in.

If there is only one apple in each bag, then that's what you should say!

"There is one apple in each bag."
"There are two bags, each containing an apple."
"There are two bags; each one contains a single apple."

CJ

Mister Micawber · Answer

Thanks for subbing, Jim.

There are two bags of apple

And this sounds like an adjective (for apple popsicles, apple turnovers, etc), not a variety. In our original (type of), we were speaking of varieties (like [url="http://www.naturalhub.com/grow_fruit_cultivars_apple.htm"]THESE[/url]). Since we were speaking generically, the article a for a singular noun was not required.

two types of something

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