|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Ask for help > īDo you like lettuce? ī or īDo you like lettuces? ī
īDo you like lettuce? ī or īDo you like lettuces? ī
|
gabitza
|
īDo you like lettuce? ī or īDo you like lettuces? ī
|
|
Hi guys!
I īm very confused about this: do we need to use a plural with vegetables of all sorts when we talk about likes/dislikes?
īDo you like broccoli / broccolis? ī īDo you like radish/radishes? ī or īlettuce ī... I would choose the singular for these cases. Am I wrong?
Please, help me out of my misery!!!!  Gabitza |
18 Mar 2009
|
|
|
|
memthefirst
|
|
I think both correct.
But I like bird. I like birds.I would choose the second one. |
18 Mar 2009
|
|
|
ameliarator
|
|
Vegetables like lettuce and broccoli are usually considered uncountable, which is understandable because you usually you some lettuce or some broccoli, not a whole head of lettuce, etc. Radishes, on the other hand are countable. So... Do you like broccoli? Do you like lettuce? Do you like radishes?
As for memtehfirst īs example, it would have to be "I like birds." (Because birds are countable)
Hope this helps! (BTW Gabitza, I love your worksheets!) |
18 Mar 2009
|
|
|
memthefirst
|
|
But we say (I like hamburger and fries) even though "hamburger" is countable. |
18 Mar 2009
|
|
|
gabitza
|
Thanks a lot for your quick replies! 
I love you all for sharing not only Ws but also valuable advice!
Gabitza |
18 Mar 2009
|
|
|
mariamit
|
|
I agree with ameliator. It īs "Do you like lettuce?" Of course, when you īre speaking of lettuce as a vegetable (plant) you can say lettuces- I have planted more than fifty lettuces in my garden this year. Think of it like chicken - when you eat it it īs I like chicken, but my grandmother has many chickens (hens) in her barn. I hope that helps a bit.
By the way I agree about your worksheets with ameliator, too. I love them. |
18 Mar 2009
|
|
|
gabitza
|
|
Thanks mariamit! You īre very helpful and I do appreciate your nice words.
Hugs and kisses from Romania.
Gabitza
|
18 Mar 2009
|
|
|
wolfy
|
|
I think lettuce is considered both a plant and the material.
I like lettuce (the material or "leaves of" - uncountable)
I like lettuces (the plant - countable)
similar to pastry.
I like pastry (the material - uncountable) I like pastries (the dessert - countable)
|
19 Mar 2009
|
|
|
Abbes_Z
|
|
Hi Gabitza,
i totally agree with Ameliarator, Mariamit and wolfy. The latter īs-- or rather-- the freedictionary īs  is very to-the-point.. i would just like to add that you can use "lettuces" as far as you think about them as a variety (i.e. various kinds of lettuces); otherwise, "lettuce" is more common..
Have a great time, Gabitza!
P.S.: i īll never forget your last intiative in my favour.. Thanks again!!  |
19 Mar 2009
|
|
|
douglas
|
|
We don īt say "I like hambuger and fries"
We say "I like hambugers and fries" or we say "I would like a hamburger and fries." |
19 Mar 2009
|
|
|
douglas
|
|
If you say "lettuce", you are talking about lettuce in general (usually indicates iceberg lettuce in America)--uncountable
If you say lettuces, you are talking about different kinds of lettuce--countable
|
19 Mar 2009
|
|
|
