Food and drink

These words name food and drink and help you order in a café. Some food can be counted (⟦an apple⟧, ⟦two eggs⟧) and some can't (⟦bread⟧, ⟦water⟧, ⟦rice⟧): we use ⟦a⟧ or ⟦an⟧ with one countable thing and ⟦some⟧ or ⟦any⟧ with uncountable food and plurals.

Key facts

  • Fruit: ⟦apple⟧, ⟦banana⟧, ⟦orange⟧, ⟦grapes⟧, ⟦mango⟧. Vegetables: ⟦carrot⟧, ⟦potato⟧, ⟦onion⟧, ⟦peas⟧. Drinks: ⟦water⟧, ⟦milk⟧, ⟦juice⟧, ⟦tea⟧.
  • Meals: ⟦breakfast⟧ (morning), ⟦lunch⟧ (middle of the day), ⟦dinner⟧ (evening).
  • ⟦a⟧ / ⟦an⟧ with one countable thing: ⟦a banana⟧, ⟦an egg⟧. ⟦some⟧ with uncountable food: ⟦some bread⟧, ⟦some milk⟧.
  • ⟦some⟧ in positive sentences and offers (⟦Would you like some tea?⟧); ⟦any⟧ in negatives and questions (⟦There isn't any rice.⟧ ⟦Are there any eggs?⟧).
  • In a café: ⟦Can I help you?⟧ ⟦I'd like a sandwich, please.⟧ ⟦Anything else?⟧ ⟦No, thank you. That's all.⟧

Worked examples

Example 1

Choose: ⟦Can I have (a / an / some) water, please?⟧

  1. We can't count ⟦water⟧.
  2. So we use ⟦some⟧: ⟦Can I have some water, please?⟧

Answer: ⟦some⟧

Example 2

Choose: ⟦Is there (some / any) milk in the fridge?⟧

  1. It is a question, not an offer.
  2. Questions usually take ⟦any⟧.

Answer: ⟦any⟧

Example 3

The waiter asks ⟦What would you like to drink?⟧ What do you say?

  1. The question is about a drink.
  2. Name the drink and say ⟦please⟧: ⟦An orange juice, please.⟧

Answer: ⟦An orange juice, please.⟧