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 Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:21 am Singular or Plural |
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Cake is singular here.
"Give him no more cake" Ok
"Don't give him any more cake" Ok |
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Pamela
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Posts: 1205
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| Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:29 am Singular or Plural |
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Hi,
Why we say:
They have no children.
but:
Give him no more cake.
What is the difference btw:
Give him no more cake.
and:
Give him no more cakes.
Quoc |
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tung quoc
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Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 372
Location: VIETNAM
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| Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:37 am No more |
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Hi,
You asked:
| Quote: | What is the difference between:
Give him no more cake.
and:
Give him no more cakes. |
The first is:
Do not give me any more cake ( which is food like cheese, butter,milk and so on)
The second is:
Do not give him any more cakes ( which are indivdual cakes like bananas, sandwiches, snacks and so on)
Alan
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Alan
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| Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:49 am Singular or Plural |
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Hi Quoc
| Quote: | What is the difference btw:
1. Give him no more cake.
and:
2. Give him no more cakes. |
When you use the word cake as a countable noun (2.), then you are talking about whole cakes. "I baked three cakes for the party."
The word cake can also be used as an uncountable noun (1.) and then it is used to talk about part of a cake: "a piece of cake", "some cake", etc.
So, your first sentence means "Don't give him any additional pieces of cake." Your second sentence means "Don't give him any more entire cakes."
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
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Location: USA
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| Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:49 pm Singular or Plural |
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Same is the case with EGG, Quoc, I suppose!
1- I had egg for dinner.(maybe many eggs beaten but served as one dish)
2- He had an egg for dinner.(Just one egg beaten: omelette or half fried)
Have I put the words correctly in your mouth, Amy? 
Tom |
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Tom
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Yankee
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