I was correcting an exercise with a student, and even if I knew that vegetable is countable, suddenly it came to my mind that " fruit" is uncountable.
Is them someone who could help me remember why vegetable, that is a generic name, is classified as countable?
PS: Explore free learning materials for English: Learning class: Contractions — Zimbabwe Timeline — Difference between Mood Tense Voice — Indefinite Article
- maryv88May 2016
GIVE ANSWERS
AussieInBgMarch 2021 This is an excellent question!!! For both ”fruit” and ”vegetable”, when we talk about types, e.g. apple, pear, potato, carrot and so on, we use both ”fruit” and ”vegetable” in plural. As for the substance, we use ”fruit” in the singular to define the uncountable/substance form and ”vegetables” in the plural as the uncountable/substance form. Why like this? Good question!!! My speculative guess: a long time ago, a meal consisted of different types of vegetables - hence the plural form for the uncountable - and only perhaps one type of fruit such as apples - giving us the singular ”fruit” form. |
vincentMarch 2021 thanks!
AlimikadoMay 2016 i can help you |