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"I like shrimp" vs "I like shrimps" I learned that "I like dog" sound like "I like eating dog" for native English people while "I like dogs" means I like dog that alive. Now let's talk about shrimp. When I go to a restaurant in Thailand, I can choose shrimp I want to eat from the fish tank - they are alive! Chefs will pick shrimps I choose and they will cook by order and I always eat more than one shrimp. In my opinion, "I like eating shrimp" means "I like to eat shrimp's meat". - I think it has this meaning because I learn that "dog" sound like dog's meat and "I like eating shrimps" means "I like eating fresh shrimp" My questions are: 1. Is shrimp countable? 2. What do "I like eating shrimp" and "I like eating shrimps" (with -s) mean? 3. If you want to say you eat two shrimps how do you say it?
Apr 15, 2012 4:24 AM
Answers · 4
3
Some people say 'I like shrimp' and some say 'I like shrimps' They both mean 'I like to eat shrimp/shrimps You will find that 'I like shrimp' is more common but both are acceptable and correct. If I was counting shrimp, I would never say 1 shrimp, 2 shrimps, 3 shrimps. I would always say 'shrimp'. Certainly English has changed over the last forty years. But when I was in school in the U.K. 'shrimps' was an unacceptable plural form for 'shrimp'. The only people that used shrimps were the 'less educated'. Times change and regional variations affect all languages.
April 15, 2012
2
shrimp = a lump of shrimp meat; shrimp flavour That is unusual, as shrimps are very small. So we say: I like shrimps.
April 15, 2012
1
If you're referring to shrimp as a food, then it's definitely uncountable (same rule as for chicken or fish, as a food). This is why "I like dog" implies eating a dog. Using the uncountable form (if it is allowed one) also hints at "in general". However, if you can count them, use the plural form. Why not? :) In Australia, we have solved the problem: we call them prawns. When we do use "shrimp" it means the very tiny species.
April 15, 2012
1
If you are counting shrimp, you would use the plural form with an s suffix: "I like the 3 shrimps on the left side of that display." If you are talking about shrimp as a group, you would omit the s suffix: "That was the best shrimp I have ever had." which refers to the plate of 10 shrimps that you just finished eating. I hope that helps :)
April 15, 2012
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