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From Mass to Count

Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:55 pm
by Munsook
I really have a problem with this topic.
"coffee" is an uncountable noun. But we can say "a coffee" and "3 coffees" because it denotes a serving.

Also "cake" can be countable and uncountable according my book.
For example, a cake OR a piece of cake.
So then, is it "three different kinds of cake" or "three different kinds of cakes"?

Also, I have a problem with "kind".
We say, "What kind of job do you have?".
Do we also ask "What kinds of jobs do you have"
if I know this person has more than one job?

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:21 am
by dduck
Collected from google:

"kinds of cake" 801 hits
"kind of cakes" 1,700 hits
"kinds of cakes" 992 hits
"kinds of job" 2,730 hits
"kind of jobs" 15,400 hits
"kinds of jobs" 30,400 hits

It appears that this area of English is quite flexible.

Iain