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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
vegetable or vegetables
Hi,
I was looking at the Collins Cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary for the word 'patato' and it had this definition:
Potatoes are vegetables with brown or red skins and white insides.
Why 'vegetables' and not just 'vegetable' when we are talking just about one kind of vegetables, potatoes?
I was looking at the Collins Cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary for the word 'patato' and it had this definition:
Potatoes are vegetables with brown or red skins and white insides.
Why 'vegetables' and not just 'vegetable' when we are talking just about one kind of vegetables, potatoes?
Top answer
Because the talk about "multiple items," thus the plural. But: The potato is a vegetable. A potato is a vegetable.
- Because the talk about "multiple items," thus the plural.
- But: The potato is a vegetable.
- A potato is a vegetable.
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12 Answers
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Because the talk about "multiple items," thus the plural.
But:
The potato is a vegetable.
A potato is a vegetable.
But:
The potato is a vegetable.
A potato is a vegetable.
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What about "Broccoli is a vegetable" or " Broccoli is vegetable?"
Which is one is acceptable?
Which is one is acceptable?
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You need the article.
(As far as I'm concerned, broccoli is a vegetable. Though I never considered a potato a vegetable before. This from the mother's point of view of what's "good for you.")
(As far as I'm concerned, broccoli is a vegetable. Though I never considered a potato a vegetable before. This from the mother's point of view of what's "good for you.")
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If you want to keep the word "broccoli" then you really ought to consider it as a plural noun.
Thus:
Broccoli are vegetables.
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Thus:
Broccoli are vegetables.
[8]
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Let's listen to someone writing for the gardening industry:
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New Respect for Broccoli
by Lindsay Bond Totten
Scripps Howard News Service
Broccoli is a vegetable that stirs strong passions. It's one of the most nutritious green vegetables we can eat, while reportedly possessing significant cancer-preventing c
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New Respect for Broccoli
by Lindsay Bond Totten
Scripps Howard News Service
Broccoli is a vegetable that stirs strong passions. It's one of the most nutritious green vegetables we can eat, while reportedly possessing significant cancer-preventing c
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No, broccoli is not a plural - 'broccoli are vegetables' is incorrect.
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If I'm not mistaken, Believer's question has not been answered.
He wants to know why, according to the Collin's Dictionary, 'Potatoes are vegetables with brown or red skins and white insides' and not 'Potatoes are a vegetable with brown or red skins and white insides'
He wants to know why, according to the Collin's Dictionary, 'Potatoes are vegetables with brown or red skins and white insides' and not 'Potatoes are a vegetable with brown or red skins and white insides'
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Nona The BritNo, broccoli is not a plural - 'broccoli are vegetables' is incorrect.I see your point.
Sounds like a bad translation from Italian to English to me.
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Yoong LiatIf I'm not mistaken, Believer's question has not been answered.IMO:
He wants to know why, according to the Collin's Dictionary, 'Potatoes are vegetables with brown or red skins and white insides' and not 'Potatoes are a vegetable with brown or red skins and white insides'
Potatoes are vegetables.
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