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ESL forum > Ask for help > help ... I have a question???    

help ... I have a question???



queeniewang0428
Taiwan

help ... I have a question???
 

Hi, there,

We are eating steak.
or
We are eating steaks.
 
thanks.

6 Apr 2010      





aquarius_gr
Greece

Singular ... We are eating steak.

6 Apr 2010     



lshorton99
China

It depends.

We are eating steak = the food in general. Steak as an uncountable food like chicken or beef.

We are eating steaks = we have a number of steaks and we are eating them. For example, we ordered six pork steaks in a restaurant.

Both are correct, it �s just the subtle nuances of meaning!


6 Apr 2010     



tastybrain
Taiwan

Good question. Ishorton99 is right. Can be both countable or uncountable. Both are correct. The uncountable steak refers to that style of cooking/preparing/eating meat. The countable refers to the actual units of steak being eaten.

You might say "We are eating steak." if someone asks you what you are eating for dinner. You would say that you are eating steak as opposed to another kind of food like hamburgers or hot pot.

You might say "We are eating steaks." if you wanted to point out that the steaks are small and there are a certain number of them. When the size, shape or number of the steaks are special or important you would probably use the countable.


6 Apr 2010     



portugueseteacher
Portugal

Well, the first option seems more correct.Hope it might help!

6 Apr 2010     



aquarius_gr
Greece

Sorry, but I have to disagree. We are eating steak automatically means there is more than one person eating steak. You can �t say "I bought/ate 2/3/4 ... steaks". It is uncountable, although you might hear it in spoken ... different story and grammatically wrong.

2 kilos of steak - 2 orders of steak - 2 plates of steak etc....

7 Apr 2010