pudding

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Vincent Teo  #357928  Mon, 30 Apr 07 11:28 AM

Can I say,

(a) May I have a pudding, please?

(b) Can / Could  I have a mango / cake pudding?

(c) We always have pudding / some pudding for dessert every day.

(d) We will have pudding as /for dessert after meal.

  
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Lil' Ruby Rose  #357960  Mon, 30 Apr 07 01:34 PM

In the UK, "pudding" is syonymous (if a little less classy) with "dessert".  Other synonyms are "afters" and "sweet", though these are falling out of use.  In the US, I believe, pudding specifically means a kind of blancmange dessert rather than dessert per se, so your sentences probably won't all work in AmE.

In BrE

(a) Yes, or "May I have some pudding, please" if you know there definitely is a dessert and you want some of it.

(b) Fine for everyday conversation - could sounds a little more tentative, as if you thought you might be refused.

(c) You don't need 'for dessert' - and the 'always' is a bit redundant if you're saying 'every day'.

(d) You have something for dessert after a/the meal.  As above, in BrE you wouldn't say you have pudding for dessert - unless it was part of the name of a specific dessert such as rice pudding or summer pudding.

  
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Vincent Teo  #358033  Mon, 30 Apr 07 03:47 PM

Can I say,

(a) Can I have a cup of pudding, please?

(b) My mother has a cup of pudding.

"pudding" is countable or uncountable? Should I add adjective in front of "Pudding"? like "mango pudding" , "orange pudding"...?

  
Lil' Ruby Rose  #358036  Mon, 30 Apr 07 03:54 PM

Please see above - it depends on whether you want BrE or AmE use.

In the UK, you can have a pudding (which can be any type of dessert) on a plate or in a bowl.

In the US, you have pudding (which is a specific type of gelatinous dessert) - but you will need an AmE user to tell you whether that would typically be served in a cup.

  
Vincent Teo  #359584  Thu, 03 May 07 11:03 AM
Sorry, i still not very clear. I just want to know, is there countable or uncountable?
  
nona the brit  #359592  Thu, 03 May 07 11:42 AM

Both, unfortunately.

  
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Yankee  #359599  Thu, 03 May 07 12:46 PM
Hi Teo

In American English, pudding is uncountable.  It is usually served in a cup or a small bowl.  So, if you'd like to order some while you're in the US, it would be fine to say "a cup of pudding".

You can solve the whole problem if you simply say "some pudding".  The word 'some' works with both countable and uncountable nouns. Wink [;)]
  
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Vincent Teo  #359600  Thu, 03 May 07 12:54 PM

Thanks. but, my friends told me that "pudding" can be used in "countable" and "uncountable". So, that makes me blur.

If I say,

(a) We have many pudding.

(b) We have a pudding / a mango pudding.

(c) I want to have a pudding.

  
Yankee  #359619  Thu, 03 May 07 01:22 PM
 Vincent Teo wrote:

Thanks. but, my friends told me that "pudding" can be used in "countable" and "uncountable". So, that makes me blur.

Yes, it is countable in British English and uncountable in American English.  And the main reason is that "pudding" does not have the same meaning in British English as it does in American English.  In other words, it's one word for two different things.

If I say,

C = countable  U = uncountable:

(a) We have many puddings. (C) / We have a lot of puddings. (C) / We have a lot of pudding. (U)

(b) We have a pudding / a mango pudding. (C)  Using 'a' makes the word 'pudding' countable, so this sentence would be grammatically correct in British English.  "A mango pudding" might be used to AmE in the following type of conversation:

Q: "Do you have any pudding?"

A: "Yes, we have a mango pudding as well as a chocolate pudding on the menu". 

(In other words, to talk about a specific type of pudding.)

(c) I want to have a pudding.  (C) This sentence is correct in British English. 

  
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