FOOD

COUNT AND NON-COUNT ITEMS

Read & Compare: are these Count or Non-count Nouns?

A large number of nouns can be counted, but others cannot because the item is
too small, is too spread out, is part of a group, or is abstract (exists in the mind.)

A group or collective noun An item in the group

The dollar is on the table.

The dollars are on the table.
The dollars and coins are on the
The money is on the table. table.
Non count Nouns (singular) Count Nouns (singular or plural)

Non-count nouns:
Not countable because they are too small to count, or they are particles, liquids,
gases, concepts or activities.

CATEGORIES EXAMPLES WITHIN

fluids / water, coffee, tea, milk, oil, gasoline, wine
liquids
solids ice, bread, butter, cheese, meat, gold, chalk silver, glass
gases air, oxygen, nitrogen, smoke, smog, pollution, steam
particles rice, corn, dirt, dust, flour, sugar, grass, hair, pepper, salt
collective baggage, luggage, clothing, furniture, food, fruit, money, traffic,
nouns garbage, scenery, junk, mail, jewelry, homework, housework,
(grouped work, grammar, slang, vocabulary
items)
abstractions happiness, health, love, fun, help, honesty, peace, progress,
beauty knowledge, justice, intelligence, luck music, time,
space, energy, mass, gravity
languages Arabic, French, Spanish, English, Portuguese
language grammar, slang, vocabulary
study
fields of chemistry, engineering, art, philosophy, science, law
study
recreation basketball, soccer, baseball, dance
activities sleeping, driving, writing, studying, swimming, studying, rock
(gerunds) climbing, sky diving
natural weather, fog, heat, humidity, lightning, rain, snow, thunder,
phenomena wind, darkness, light, sunshine, electricity, fire
dialectal I have to buy some fruit and vegetables.
variation or
I have to buy some fruits and vegetables.
varieties: They have four kinds of eggplants. All the fishes in the sea
need clean water.
common *I have a lot of homeworks to do.
mistakes: *She is washing her hairs.
*The equipments weren't working well.
*My baggages were lost.
* I bought new furnitures.

Fruit vs. Fruits

Dialectal variations occur for the noun

"fruit".
The same variations occur with:
grapefruit, breadfruit and eggplant.

SINGULAR PREFERENCE DIALECTAL VARIATION

Most speakers prefer the singular
form in this sentence:
Fruit is delicious in the summertime.
*Fruits are delicious in the
summertime. (incorrect unless talking
about different groups / species of
fruit)
EXPRESSION:
May we soon enjoy the fruits of our
labor. (benefits)
Preferences vary in this sentence
when mentioned with vegetables:
I have to buy some fruit and
vegetables.
I have to buy some fruits and
vegetables.

The items within the category "fruit"

are countable. (No variation)

SINGULAR PLURAL
This cantaloupe is delicious. These cantaloupes are delicious.
This grape is sweet. These grapes are sweet.
 Practice

Add the group noun or the singular noun depending on the context of the
sentence.

The group noun "meat" may consist of several "steaks".

..
meat is not countable a steak is / steaks are countable

1 A butcher shop sells __________?

2 We are going to cook these __________ on
the barbecue.
3 We each ate a __________.

The group noun "equipment" may consist of several

"computers".

a computer is / computers are

equipment is non-countable countable

1a Much of the __________ in our office needs

updating.
1b Several of the __________ are being updated.

The group noun "scenery" may consist of several "views".

 scenery is not countable a view is / views are countable

We drove to the top of the mountain to see the

2a
__________ of the lake.
We looked at the __________ as we drove to the
2b
top.

The group noun "luggage" may consist of several "suitcases".

luggage is not countable a bag is / bags are countable

a suitcase is / suitcases are countable

Not much __________ can be taken aboard an

3a
airplane.
Most people usually travel with a
3b
couple__________.

The group noun - "software" may consist of several "programs".

a program is / programs are countable

software is not countable
an application is / applications are

A few __________ are available as free

4a
downloads online.
Some __________ is available as "open
4b
source".
The group noun - "art" may consist of several "paintings".

art is not countable a painting is / paintings are countable

a photograph is / photographs are
countable

5a Some __________ is very hard to understand.

Some __________ are very fragile and need
5b
special displays.

The group noun "candy" may consist of several "pieces of

candy".

a candy bar is / candy bars are

countable
a lollipop is / lollipops are countable
candy is not countable a truffle is / truffles are countable

6a __________ is given out on Halloween.

6b __________ are given on Valentines Day.
The group noun "work" may consist of several "jobs".

work is not countable a job is / jobs are countable

7a Each day, we have a lot of __________ to do.

7b Each one of us has a __________ to do.

The group noun "mail" mail consist of several "letters".

a letter is / letters are countable

mail is not countable a message / messages are countable

8a I get several __________ each day.

8b Much of my __________ is catalogs.

The group noun "clothing" may consist of several "shirts".

clothing is not countable a shirt is / shirts are countable

a blouse / blouses are countable

9a Your __________ needs washing.

9b Your __________ need washing.
You can also use clothes: My clothes need washing. (no singular form)
Pants is used in the plural form: I'm wearing pants. I'm wearing a pair of
pants. (same with socks).

The group noun "slang" may consist of several

"expressions".
"Cool, man"
"Dude!" "Chill"

an expression is / expressions are

slang is not countable
countable

10a I'm learning a lot of __________.

10b I don't know much __________.
10c I don't know many __________.

Slang words are informal usage; expressions may include slang and,
therefore, are formal and informal usage.

The group noun "furniture" may consist of several "chairs".

furniture is not countable a chair is / chairs are countable

We have so many __________ that everyone

11a
has a place to sit.
We don't have much __________ in our
11b
apartment.
The group noun "hair" consists of several "hairs".

hair is not countable a hair is / hairs are countable

a strand of hair / strands of hair are
countable

12a I have to wash my __________ tonight.

Today, I found a couple gray __________ in
12b
my eyebrows.

Hairs are generally individual ones (one or two) found on the floor, on clothing
and occasionally in food!
Food substances are not usually countable unless they have
quantifiers!

NON-COUNT FOOD NOUN QUANTIFIERS FOR FOOD: NOUNS

a glass, a bottle, a carton,

milk a gallon a box
QUANTIFIERS FOR FOOD
RICE PASTA BREAD

a grain, a bowl, a sack,

a box a piece, a package, a a loaf, a slice, a piece
bag
CHOCOLATE BEER HONEY

a piece, a square, a a spoonful, a jar

bar, a mug, a glass, a bottle,
a keg
MEAT PAPER COFFEE

a slice, a steak, a chop,

a roast
a piece, a slice, a pat, a a cup, a pot
stick, a pound, a cup
NON-COUNT NOUNS (just a few!).
fluids water, coffee, tea, milk, oil, wine, beer, soda, etc.
solids ice, bread, butter, cheese, meat, etc.
particles rice, corn, flour, sugar, popcorn, pepper, salt, cinnamon,
oregano (spice names)
groups food, fruit

Practice

Animals and Meat: The names for meat from different animals vary.

ANIMAL SOURCE FOOD NAME - YOUR RESPONSE

1. Would you like some __________?

a calf (the baby)

2. Would you like some __________?

a pig
3. Would you like some __________?

a bull or steer

4. Would you like some __________?

a sheep
5. Would you like some __________?

a rooster

6. Would you like some __________?

a deer

MEAT
PORTIONS
7. I would like __________?

beef / veal

8. I would like __________?

beef / lamb/ pork /

veal
turkey / chicken /
any meat

9. I would like __________?

lamb or pork
10. I would like __________?

pork leg
11. I would like __________?

turkey / chicken /
beef
lamb / pork / any
meat
12. I would like __________?

turkey / chicken /
beef
lamb / pork / any
meat
bread / pizza /
cheese

13. I would like __________? *

chicken / turkey /
lamb

14. I would like __________**

fish / beef

Note: in a restaurant, people usually refer to a menu item or dish using the.

" I would like the lamb (dish)."

" I will try the fresh fish of the day."

* Other parts of turkey and chicken: wing, breast, thigh, back, neck, feet
** Also, spelled fillet.