Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

Plumpy'nut was invented by Andre Briend, a French scitist. After trying unsuccessfuly for many years to produce an alternative to powdered milk, he noticed a jar of chocolate-and-nut spread on his table at home. This gave him the idea for Plumpy'nut, which is made by mixing peanut butter with vitamins and milk.

About:
he noticed a jar of chocolate-and-nut spread on his table at home.
----->
What does the sentence mean?
(1) Did he see a jar of chocolate-and-nut spread on his table at home?
(2) Did he see that a jar of chocolate-and-nut was spread(=put) on his table at home?

Is "chocolate-and-nut spread" a noun, or not?

Thank you in advance.

[Lorikeet]

He saw a jar of something made with chocolate and nuts, that can be spread on bread. ("chocolate-and-nut spread") I'd say "spread" is a noun, and "chocolate-and-nut" is an adjective telling what kind of spread. You can sometimes find "fruit spread" as well. It sounds like someone mixed chocolate and peanut butter together, or something. I've never heard of it in quite that way, but I understand what it means.

[learner12]

Dear Lorikeet:

Thank you so much for your polite explanations.

Have a nice day!!