Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

May Ko · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Hi, can someone help me with this?
when someone ask me "what's your favorite food?"
what should I answer?
do I say
1. My favorite food is noodles.
2. My favorite food are noodles.
which one is grammatically correct?
Thank you very much!!

lotus · Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 862

May Ko,

Sentence #1 is correct. In general, noodles as a class of food or grocery item is plural (sometimes treated as a singular group). Noodles as a dish or menu item is singular.

plural:

My favorite food is noodles.
Noodles was invented in China.
He had noodles for lunch.

We bought a pound of noodles at the Chinese grocery store.
Those noodles were very thin.
Egg noodles taste better than wheat noodles.
He slurped his noodles while he ate.

singular:

Thai noodle is very spicy.
I ordered the Korean noodle.
Vietnamese noodle, Pho, is very tasty.

--lotus

May Ko · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Dear Lotus,
Thank you for you reply.
But, how about favorite fruit ?
Do I say "My favorite fruit is apples." or should I say "My favorite fruit is apple."

Lorikeet · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1877 Location: San Francisco

lotus · Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 862

Hi Lorikeet,

I would correct myself and say that "Noodles were invented in China." The other sentences below sound correct to me. I've included relevant links below. It turns out that sometimes people say noodle, and sometimes they say noodles.

Noodles were invented in China.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4335160.stm

My favorite food is noodles.
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DranesvilleES/links/pdfs/karr_cookbook04.pdf#search='favorite%20food%20noodles'

Thai noodle is very spicy.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/healthy_family/66733

I ordered the Korean noodle.
http://www.koamart.com/shop/6-1177-noodle-korean_style_thick_noodle__gook_soo__(asian_spagetti)_2lbs.asp

Vietnamese noodle (soup), Pho, is very tasty.
http://fitdv.recipezaar.com/55895 (noodle salad, not noodle soup)

All this makes me hungry!

--lotus

lotus · Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 862

Hi May Ko,

QUOTE:
But, how about favorite fruit ?
Do I say "My favorite fruit is apples." or should I say "My favorite fruit is apple."

I would say "My favorite fruit is apples." Apples is a class of fruit. However, I've heard it said in other ways.

Here's an interesting link on the subject.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/8360.php

--lotus

sunmaggie · Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Posts: 6

Dear Lotus:
Why do we use Thai Noodle instead of Thai noodles?
Happy New Year, everyone!!!!!

May Ko · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Thank you all!
But I am confused even more. Please help.
Is American English grammar different from British English grammar?
My English text book says that "My favorite fruit is apples."
However, the author of this book is Chinese.
But I also heard people say "My favorite fruit is apple."
Can you tell me how to say this in American way and in British way?
Thank you so much.

May Ko

lotus · Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 862

Hi sunmaggie,

You can use either depending on the situation. Thai noodle is noodles with Thai spice. Let's say my friends and I are trying to decide on which restaurant to go to. The dialogue might go something like this:

Me: Hey, what do you guys feel like having tonight?
friend1: Well, I feel like some Thai food. How about the Thai noodle place over there?
friend2: Nah, I don't want Thai noodle. I think they're too spicy. How about Vietnamese noodles? I love the beef noodle soup.
Me: Look, if you guys can't decide, let's try the new Korean restaurant over there. I heard that Korean noodles have less MSG and taste better.
friend1: Alright, let's just have pizza!

Here's a menu with Thai noodle:
http://www.snapfood.com/chelseathai

--lotus

lotus · Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 862

Hi May Ko,

Don't feel frustrated. English is an Art. It can sometimes be very informal. Nothing is set in stone. In fact, in most Universities, English is part of the Language Arts department. Like all art, it can be expressed and interpreted in different ways. I'll try to explain your "apple" question. But mine would not be the only valid explanation.

I do not believe it is a British/American problem.

"My favorite fruit is apples" is correct. However, "My favorite fruit is apple" is informally acceptable.

The more proper way to say it (using apple) is "My favorite fruit is the apple." But this is one extra word, and people just don't want to say it. It may also be that the word "apple" is so prevalent that it has become an all encompassing singular/plural noun.

An example of this would be Band-aid. Band-aid is a name brand for adhesive bandages. It is so widely used that we violate trademark rules and call all adhesive bandages band-aids. We even go as far as making it plural.

I got a paper-cut. Do you have a band-aid?
No, I can't find the box of band-aid (adhesive bandages).

So, it might be understood that apple in general means apples. Here are two examples:

I'm tired of eating apple.
Apple is good for you.

--lotus

May Ko · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks everyone.
Your answers help me a lot.
Thanks again.

May Ko

May Ko · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Dear Lotus,

Thanks for your explanation.
It is very helpful. The information you gave clears my doubt.
Thank you very much.

May Ko