Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
means of transport (car, bus, etc.); instrument; means; medium
glove
puzzle
vehicle
blanket
Free TOEIC test: Free word games online: Noun Adverb Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Food vs Foods



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Is this text ok? You may have your neck swollen after the injection and it... | Difference between waiting and awaiting
Message Author
Food vs Foods Fri Jul 04, 2008 0:29 am  Food vs Foods
 

How are you?
I'd like to know if the word food is countable or non-countable. 'Cause I've seen two questions that drive me crazy, one says: What kinds of foods are healthy? and the other states: Do you eat healthy or unhealthy foods?

Another thing related to this. Is it "candy" countable or non-countable? ? 'Cause I've seen in a grammar book the word on the side of non-countable things. So, how come?

Thanks in advance!
Serzige
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 94

Food vs Foods Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:01 am  Food vs Foods
 

'Food' can be both count and non-count, but in the case of it being countable, it means "a kind of___"

'foods' is countable.

'Candy' is non-count.
_________________
Native speaker but not a perfect speaker.
But completely fluent in over six million forms of Teflese.
Skrej
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Location: Not-quite exact central USA

Want to learn about the future tenses? Read this story and smileRead these English anecdotes and maybe smile today? Subscribe to free email English courseAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skills
Food vs Foods Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:52 am  Food vs Foods
 

"Food" is uncountable and simply means food as a substance or material that you put in your mouth.
"Foods" means different types of food.

"Candy" is uncountable in general, but sometimes you'll see or hear "candies", which means different types of candy.

It works the same way with words like "fish".
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4451
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Food vs Foods Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:06 am  Food vs Foods
 

Could anybody put the word candy in both usages in sentences, as non-countable and the plural?
Thanks!
Serzige
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 94

Food vs Foods Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:13 am  Food vs Foods
 

Too much candy is bad for your teeth. (non-count)

Hamm's candies are the best in the word. (plural, but still non-count - meaning different types of candy)

I had 20 candies for lunch, and now I'm sick. (plural, count).

Note that the use of candies as a plural count, while grammatically correct, isn't very commonly used, at least in American English. I don't know how common it might be in British or Australian English.
_________________
Native speaker but not a perfect speaker.
But completely fluent in over six million forms of Teflese.
Skrej
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Location: Not-quite exact central USA

Food vs Foods Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:38 am  Food vs Foods
 

Skrej wrote:
I had 20 candies for lunch, and now I'm sick. (plural, count).

I would never say that, because it would still mean different types of candy. I'd say, "I had 20 pieces of candy for lunch, and now I'm sick."

Skrej wrote:
Note that the use of candies as a plural count, while grammatically correct, isn't very commonly used, at least in American English. I don't know how common it might be in British or Australian English.

I don't think the British would use "candy" at all in that context. I think they would use the word "sweets". However, I have no idea what word the British use when they want to talk about sweets.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4451
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Food vs Foods Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:06 am  Food vs Foods
 

so, would it be right to say something like this?:
I have 20 kinds of candies..or ...I have 20 twenty kind of candy.

Thanks...
Serzige
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 94

Food vs Foods Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:17 am  Food vs Foods
 

Serzige wrote:
so, would it be right to say something like this?:
I have 20 kinds of candies..or ...I have 20 twenty kind of candy.

20 kinds of candy.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4451
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Display posts from previous:   
Is this text ok? You may have your neck swollen after the injection and it... | Difference between waiting and awaiting
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Food vs Foods All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Usage of still (I still have to make a decision today.)"point at" vs "point in"A beauty (full) mind.Hot News vs Breaking NewsWhat happened vs What was happenedGerund: Organizing the events in efficient and effective mannerSo nice picterIs this sentence all right? (No sooner had the train...)"at that place" vs "in that place"'Cove' vs 'Bay'where can I find the material like this?I need help: where can I download Babylon Pro?The best way to learn phrasal verbs!Difference between 'Beach' and 'Shore'Expression: "He lashed me with his whip.""Keep it with you" vs "Keep it with yourself"To park on the hard shoulder"by" vs "in"Food vs Foods

Discover English-test.net
About GRE Verbal ScoringThat vs whichWould it be allright if the 'whatever the times' were 'at any time'?'To take a toll ON smb', 'to take a toll OF smth'?Confused about Has/HaveGRE Exam Test: Vocabulary Sentence: English Nouns Adjectives VerbsGRE practice test: Interactive word games: Free Online Noun Adjective Verb GameDefine progeny, wont, quadruped, inequity, numismatist, cogFree vocabulary: Noun verb adjective worksheetsElementary English grammar: Infinitive vs. GerundEnglish grammar quiz: A Tourism Partnership

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail