Usage of "kind"

Question

There are many kinds of pencils. VS. There are many kinds of pencil.This is a kind of a convenience store. VS. This is a kind of convenience store.Which one is natural to native English speakers? Thank you so much as usual.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousThere are many kinds of pencils. VS. There are many kinds of pencil.

Both of these are common, the first perhaps more so in conversation.

AnonymousThis is a kind of convenience store.

This is good the other has a different meaning.

AnonymousThis is a kind of a convenience store.

This does not mean a type, but a store somewhat similar to a convenience store. The phrasing is informal, and is more often 'this is kind of a...'

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much and then how about these?

These are many kinds of pencils.
These are many kinds of pencil.

Both mean the same, right? Thank you so much.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Did you not read Mr M's response to this question?

Anonymous · Answer

I am sorry but I just wanted to make sure of it, so they mean the same, don't they? Thank you and I am sorry.

Anonymous · Answer

This my take on this:

1. This is the sentence that would most often be heard:

There are many kinds of pencils: wood ones, mechanical ones, cosmetic ones, art ones.

2. This sentence would be used almost exclusively in an art class context:

There are many kinds of pencil that we use for sketching.

3. This sentence would only be used in a grimly humorous, ironic situation:

A: This place is unreal: electronic gates, buzzer to enter the main door, clerks behind bulletproof glass. What is this anyway?
B: Well, this is a kind of a convenience store - the neighborhood is a high-crime area.

4. This sentence is grammatical but I cannot think of a situation in real life where it would be used. If a store is a convenience store, then you simply say that it is a convenience store, not "a kind of convenience store."

Mister Micawber · Answer

Anonymous3. This sentence would only be used in a grimly humorous, ironic situation:A: This place is unreal: electronic gates, buzzer to enter the main door, clerks behind bulletproof glass. What is this anyway?B: Well, this is a kind of a convenience store - the neighborhood is a high-crime area.4. This sentence is grammatical but I cannot think of a situation in real life where it would be used. If a store is a convenience store, then you simply say that it is a convenience store, not "a kind of convenience store."

No, not at all—many older mom-and-pop stores are a kind of convenience store.

Usage of "kind"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions