Is sandwich countable?

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Munsook
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Is sandwich countable?

Post by Munsook » Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:51 pm

We say, "Would you like a sandwich?". It seems like a countable noun to me. So do we also say that "Would you like sandwiches?"

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Lorikeet
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Post by Lorikeet » Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:00 pm

Yes, sandwich is a count noun. "Would you like sandwiches?" is correct English, depending on the story behind it. If I am planning a party, and you are going to bring all the food, you could ask me if I'd like sandwiches. Maybe I would like sandwiches at the party, and maybe I'd like crackers and dip instead.

If you are asking someone if they want to eat a sandwich, then "Would you like a sandwich?" is the right question.

thepostmodern
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Count Nouns

Post by thepostmodern » Fri Nov 14, 2003 11:26 pm

"Sandwich" is a count noun but all count and non-count nouns tend to be context driven. One could say, for example, that "there is sandwich in the world." This sounds like a rediculous example, but the point is that I used the word as a category which made it into a non-count noun.

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Lorikeet
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Post by Lorikeet » Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:39 am

Hmm it's a stretch to me--you mean there are sandwiches in the world?

dduck
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Re: Count Nouns

Post by dduck » Sat Nov 15, 2003 12:52 pm

thepostmodern wrote:This sounds like a ridiculous example...
Does your example strengthen or weaken the point you're trying to make?
Iain

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