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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Which is correct?    

Which is correct?



mrlai417
Hong Kong

Which is correct?
 

one of my students asked me which is the correct...

(A) My favourite food is an apple.
 
(B) My favourite food is apples.
 
I think (A) is correct.. but some colleagues think both are correct. Well....
I do not know which one is correct now and do not know how to explain to the student.
 
Also, some colleagues think...
 
(A) My favourite food is an apple. <-----should be singular...
 
(B) I like apples best. <---- should be plural...
 
 
 

27 Sep 2009      





maoopa
China

Personally,
I think that the second one works better because "apples" is general, while "an apple" would refer to one in particular.

Mauro

27 Sep 2009     



Tint
South Africa

I would say "My favourite food is apples". More to the point, I �d say, "Apples are my favourite food." For your example A, I �d use "My favourite snack is an apple." 

A good explanation of your �apple � question can be found here:
http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?docid=146417

27 Sep 2009     



douglas
United States

Apples are my favorite food.
 
if I had to choose from the two it would be" My favorite food is apples.", but I suspect it is wrong.  I would definately say "my favorite food is pineapple." (not plural).  I believe we should use the singular with "apple" as well, but it sounds funny.
 
Douglas

27 Sep 2009     



mr.dgdln
Turkey

I don �t know for sure but I �d say "my favourite food is apple"
I can see no reason to make it plural with -s or indicate that it is singular with"a/an" in this example.

27 Sep 2009     



mariamit
Greece

I agree with Douglas. If it has to to be one of the teo  go with the plural.  As a native speaker although I would say
"Apples are my favorite food."
 

27 Sep 2009     



GIOVANNI
Canada

One of my teachers once told me that when speaking of fruit or fruits it is very difficult to define.  Her explaination was that when speaking of small fruits it is safe to say �My favourite food is  cherries.  My favourite food is apples. �  When we speak of bigger fruits we would say �My favourite  food is  watermelon.  My favourite food is pineapple etc. �
I would have to agree with Douglas on this one, but to me, it also sounds funny.

27 Sep 2009     



millmo
France

My favourite fruit ARE apples (plural)

27 Sep 2009     



mrlai417
Hong Kong

Thanks a lot!

27 Sep 2009     



mrlai417
Hong Kong

Therefore, could I say...
 
(A) Chicken wings are my favourite food.
 
(B) Dogs are my favourite animal.
 
(C) Blue is my favourite colour.
 
When I check up the dictionary, "favourite" should be refer to the only one thing,....
 
for example apples are my favourite fruit.
 
However, sometimes when i read novels, i see...
 
Playing football and swimming are my favourite sports.
 
Is it correct?

27 Sep 2009