"I've got no fruit(s?)" :)
Tried to help one girl, and had a tho' was I right?
Here is the rule:
"fruit/fruit(s)"
Singular is clear - we've articles a (one, some - smtms).
Fact: when the word "fruit" used as uncountable noun it has plural form similar to singular, without article. a fruit - fruit. It is simple. But unlike Russian lang. in English it has three different meanings.
First one: when it's kind of food (meal, edible substance), collective name (nomina collectiva) for all the edible tree-grown (etc.) objects. In this case we use common singular-plural form without article and without ending "-s", but in Russian we've "фрукты". E.g.: We have fresh vegetables and canned fruit. It 's uncountable.
Because of this most Russian speakers (learners) used to believe that the word is uncountable. Here is more information. The variant with "-s" is posible! 'Cos it has the second meaning. In a case when we talk about different kinds of edible objects we use plural form with "-s" without article - fruits. So now it is countable. E.g.: What fruits are good for breakfast? Some fruits are toxic to dogs.(...kinds of fruits...)
At last there is one more meaning, third one:when we talk about friuts (vegetation result, fetuses, harvest) of some trees or plants (something - if we are talking figuratively about results). E.g.: The fruits of learning. Look at the fruits of our labor. So now it is countable too.
Back to the singular! When we need to point at one fruit (apple for e.g.) we should name it or use "some fruit", "a piece of fruit". E.g.: She always has a piece of fruit with her dinner (...one fruit...).
You are welcome to judge me. :)
Search from various English teachers...
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все верно братишка!!
Actually, the same can be said of other uncountable nouns, such as: cheese(s), chocolate(s) and fish(es).
If we say "The servant arrived with a platter of cheeses", we intuitively know that there were a selection of different kinds of cheese on the platter.
But of course, we don't see the chocolates of our labour, or the cheeses of learning ;-)
Great analysis you've pieced together there. A very fruitful exercise! Молодец!
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