Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

* What are you doing buddy?
- I�m making / cooking instant noodle.
- I�m making / cooking fried rice.
- I�m making / cooking the omelet.
- I�m making / cooking chicken curry.
- I�m making white coffee / Lipton tea.
- I�m making / cooking vegetarian food.

- Are these natural?

Thanks a lot to Teachers,

Stevenukd

[Nef]

- I�m making / cooking instant noodle. (noodles - plural)
Either way is fine.

- I�m making / cooking fried rice.
Either way is fine.

- I�m making / cooking the omelet. an omelet
(unless the person you're talking to knows exactly what kind of omelet your're making; unless you've already talked about a particular type of omelet)
Either way is fine.

- I�m making / cooking chicken curry.
Either way is fine.

- I�m making white coffee / Lipton tea.

Does white coffee mean with milk/cream? If that's the case, I think somebody probably would just say I'm making coffee. And someone would be more likely to say I'm making tea than I'm making Lipton tea (unless it seemed important to communicate that it wasn't some other kind of tea).

- I�m making / cooking vegetarian food.
OK if it seems important to differentiate between vegetarian and non-vegetarian right now.

cooking vs. making
I'm making needs an object. (You could be making computers or shirts, not just breakfast, lunch or dinner.)

I'm cooking is fine with an object, but doesn't need one. Of course, it's more specific when you add an object.