Is this proper?

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thorn

#61762 Thu, 16 Dec 04 09:42 AM

Can I switch the word"bucket" to "pot" in the following sentence?
"How many buckets of eggs do you need?"

thanks

thorn

Joined on Wed, Dec 1 2004

New Member (04)

Guest

#61778 Thu, 16 Dec 04 10:29 AM

I wouldn't even recommend using the word pots! One would normally buy a certain amount of eggs (usually by the dozen), not a number of buckets full! How about "how many dozen eggs do you need?"

Guest

Numbers

hbae787

#61806 Thu, 16 Dec 04 02:04 PM

Guest,

By "one would normally buy eggs by a dozen" you are assumimg that Thorn lives in the US, or at least in some Western countries where 12 eggs are nicely packed in styrofoam containers.

However, in many parts of the world folks still go to farms to buy eggs by buckets, crates, or baskets and Thorn may very well be one of those folks.

hbae787

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Houston

Junior Member (86)

thorn

#61963 Fri, 17 Dec 04 08:12 AM

Thank you for the reply!

I know the question looks awkard, because it is from my exercising book. It's a translation practice(Chinese to English). In my dictionary, pots and buckets share the same meaning in Chinese. I really am not sure which word to use. I thought it's better to ask the question here. Again, thank you both for the answer!

thorn

Translation

MrPedantic

#61967 Fri, 17 Dec 04 08:32 AM

Hello Thorn

I would find 'buckets of eggs' perfectly comprehensible; but 'pots of eggs' would make me look twice.

A 'bucket' has a moving handle that overarches the body of the container: it's designed for carrying things. A 'pot' more commonly has a fixed handle; it's designed for cooking or keeping things in. Thus the former is better for carrying eggs.

MrP

MrPedantic