My daughter's question

[Eve]

Hi Allen,
Again, I turn to you for help when I got stumped by my daughter's question this morning, and this time, the question might make me sound like an idiot:

"How many ways can you answer correctly to the question: 'What's your favorite fruit?'?"

Well, I gave her my answers:
1. "Apples are my favorite fruit."
2. "My favorite fruit is an apple."
3." Apple is my favorite fruit."
4. "My favorite fruit is the apple."

Later, I'm kind of wondering if my answers are all correct, and if there are still other answer patterns for the question, like "My favorite fruit is apple." or "My favorite fruit is apples.". You see, my mind has totally got meddled. Hope tomorrow, I'll become normal.

[Alan]

Hi Eve,

Earlier this year there was a very long discussion on this topic - article or no article /definite or indefinite article /singular or plural. In the end there was little agreement. I have a horrible feeling it's all going to start again! But never mind. I would say that are all your sentences are acceptable.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Indirect Speech

[Eve]

Hi Alan,
Hahah, it really makes me feel good that you even have something that gets you headache over. Just kidding.
Anyways, on your suggestion, I decide to leave the grammar behind and follow my language sense next time when another big question from my daughter plops up.

many thanks
Eve

[Mister Micawber]

.
... or pops up!
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber