Singular or Plural (shoe/shoes, cake/cakes)

[Tung Quoc]

Dear teachers,

Please read:

1/ What kind of shoe/shoes did you buy?
2/ What kind of cake/cakes did you buy?

Do you choose "cake" or "cakes", "shoe" or "shoes"? What is the difference btw singular form and plural form?

Thanks
Quoc

[Alan]

Hi,

What kind of shoe? asks about the make and style of the particular shoe you have bought
What kind of shoes ? asks about the types of shoes that you have bought.

The same would apply to your example of cake and cakes.

I think the difference is better illustrated if the question is about a car you have bought.

Question:What kind of car did you buy?
Answer: I bought a sports car.

Question: What kind of cars were for sale at the garage?
Anaswer: They sold only very expensive models.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story If you vote

[Tung Quoc]

Dear Sir,

Please read:

a.2 kinds of cakes.
b.2 kinds of cake.

What is the difference in meaning btw a and b?

Thanks
Quoc

[Alan]

HI,

From what I have written in my previous reply, I would think you could answer this yourself? Kind is singular and kinds is plural.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Make or Do?

[Tung Quoc]

Dear teacher,

From what I have written in my previous reply, I would think you could answer this yourself? Kind is singular and kinds is plural.

Kind (s) or cake(s)?

Quoc