ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: pudding

nona the brit — Fri, 04 May 2007 11:01:17 GMT

just don't order Yorkshire pudding, black pudding or white pudding as a dessert! (in fact, don't order black or white pudding at all, that's my advice).

Re: pudding

CalifJim — Thu, 03 May 2007 20:27:57 GMT

When I visited England I thought they were purposely trying to drive me round the bend!

When you think of pudding as something that is eaten as a dessert, you just sit there wide-eyed and open-mouthed when asked if you want cake for pudding.

-- Do you mean you usually get pudding, but you can substitute cake today?
-- No! You get whatever you like for pudding.
-- So you'll bring me pudding and I'll pretend it's cake or pie or whatever?
-- No!

I can certainly sympathize with the original poster. The whole thing leaves me talking to myself, if you know what I mean!

CJ

Re: pudding

nona the brit — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:25:08 GMT

It works rather like cake or sugar- but with another added dimension.

The substance itself is non-count. I would like some pudding. Can I have a portion of the pudding please.

Individual puddings are count - I would like a large treacle pudding please. That is a lovely steamed pudding you've got there.

Then add in the fact that 'pudding' is sometimes used as the name of a course of a meal (in the same way as starter, main course etc) and then covers all of the desserts whatever the type.

Re: pudding

Yankee — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:22:30 GMT

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.

Re: pudding

Vincent Teo — Thu, 03 May 2007 11:54:29 GMT

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.

Re: pudding

Yankee — Thu, 03 May 2007 11:46:19 GMT

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.

Re: pudding

nona the brit — Thu, 03 May 2007 10:42:41 GMT

Both, unfortunately.

Re: pudding

Vincent Teo — Thu, 03 May 2007 10:03:00 GMT

Sorry, i still not very clear. I just want to know, is there countable or uncountable?

Re: pudding

Lil' Ruby Rose — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:54:38 GMT

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.

Re: pudding

Vincent Teo — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:47:43 GMT

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"...?

Re: pudding

Lil' Ruby Rose — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 12:34:18 GMT

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.

(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.

pudding

Vincent Teo — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 10:28:08 GMT

Can I say,

(a) May I have a pudding, please?

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

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