Click here to play

Food / foods

1 2
   Share on Facebook  
Musicgold  #535412  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:24 PM
Hi,

I read the following sentences in a book. I don't understand why the first setence use 'food' instead of 'foods' . The second sentence shows that food is a countable noun.
Also as a side question, why there is no comma before 'and', in #1sentence, even though it is acting as a conjunction between two indpendent clauses.?

1. Go to a mall food court and make a list of food that is good for your health.

2. They try to avoid foods that are high in fat or sugar.

Thanks,

MG.
  
Not Ranked
Joined on Sat, Jul 14 2007
Junior Member (52)
CalifJim  #535414  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:29 PM
Musicgold
Go to a mall food court and make a list of food that is good for your health.
I would have written:

Go to a mall food court, and make a list of foods that are good for your health.

The comma might have been omitted because the first clause is so short.  There is little chance for confusion with such a short clause.

CJ 

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member (16,931)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
Clive  #535417  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:36 PM
Hi,

I read the following sentences in a book. I don't understand why the first sentence use 'food' instead of 'foods' . The second sentence shows that food is a countable noun. 'Food' can be both countable and non-countable, and we often don't much care about making a distinction or speaking consistently.

Also as a side question, why there is no comma before 'and', in #1sentence, even though it is acting as a conjunction between two indpendent clauses.? Until I read posts here by some other students of English who mentioned this so-called 'rule', I had never heard of it. You'll read lots of sentences that do not use a comma before 'and'. I'd say that some factors that influence comma use are the length of the sentence and the complexity of its structure.

1. Go to a mall food court and make a list of food that is good for your health.

2. They try to avoid foods that are high in fat or sugar.

Best wishes, Clive

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (21,097)
ModeratorTeachers
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
New2grammar  #535418  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:39 PM

Why foods? I remember foods and fruits are hardly ever used. Could you tell me the difference? I'm think I'm ready to attempt to understand them. :) maybe not. But no harm trying right?



  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006
Veteran Member (7,670)
Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?
CalifJim  #535421  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:43 PM
New2grammar
Why foods?
Because "list of". Smile  I may be wrong but I don't think it's possible to have a list of X, where X is not countable.

a list of water?  a list of sand?  a list of appreciation?  I don't think so!  Smile

CJ 

  
New2grammar  #535431  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:51 PM
That's a great explanation!!!

Off topic: would you say a list of foods though? Is it the most natural expression when you go grocery shopping?

  
Clive  #535434  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:55 PM
Hi,
 would you say a list of foods though? Not very often, that's for sure.

Is it the most natural expression when you go grocery shopping? Usually, you just say 'a shopping list'.
Clive
  
CalifJim  #535437  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:56 PM
New2grammar
would you say a list of foods
No.  shopping list is the usual term, or grocery list; perhaps you could call it a "list of items to buy".

CJ 

  
New2grammar  #535440  Tue, 01 Jul 08 10:59 PM
I agree. Thanks, Clive and CJ.
  
1 2
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service