'I like apples vs I like watermelon' の問題ですが、ネットで調べると、日本に住んでいるニュージーランド人が次の説明をしていました。(https://www.fruitfulenglish.com/blog/simon-4/)
Hello! My name is Simon.
I am from New Zealand, and have been living and teaching English in Japan since 1999.
（以下抜粋）
I like cabbage -- this is probably the most common way of saying this. (non-count usage)
I like cabbages -- this strikes me as a little odd. But it is possible, especially if you're referring to different types of cabbage. (I like red cabbage, and I like green cabbage, so I like cabbages). (count usage)
I like a cabbage -- can be used in colloquial English, but it would usually be followed by something, for example "I like a cabbage from time to time."
The problem arises because it's not clear if cabbage is a count noun or a non count noun. It can be thought of both ways.
If non count, then "I like cabbage" would be more ordinary. And if you bought one, you would say, "I bought a head of cabbage". (non count usage)
If count, then "I like cabbages" is fine, and when you go to the store, you buy a cabbage. (count usage)
"I like a cabbage" is colloquial, like "I like a good coffee from time to time." or "I like a good wine from time to time."
"How do I know which form to use?”
For some foods there is no hard and fast rule. Depending on who you ask, some people will tell you to use the countable form (e.g. green pepper)（注： uncountableの誤り？), and some will tell you to use the uncountable form (e.g. green peppers)（注：countableの誤り？）. The only way to know for sure is to google the word in a short sentence, in quotation marks (e.g. “I like green peppers.” / “I like green pepper.”) If one form has an overwhelming number of results compared to the other, then that is the form you should use.
Here are some examples I tried:
“I like pizza” – 1,540,000 results” / “I like pizzas” – 28,100 results”
“I like steak” – 195,000 results” / “I like steaks” – 71,900 results”
“I like ice cream” – 1,670,000 results” / “I like ice creams” – 223 results”
“I like watermelon” – 520,000 results” / “I like watermelons” – 84,300 results”
“I like paprika” – 20,900 results” / “I like paprikas” – 224 results”
Based on the above results, I would use the uncountable form of pizza, ice cream, and paprika. With steak and watermelon, the results are close enough that I think either form is fine.
So let’s try this test with green pepper(s):
“I like green pepper.” – 114 results” / “I like green peppers.” – 417 results”
It seems that both forms are fine. It’s just not a very popular food…
この方法はある程度は実用的だが、ネットの英語は英語を母国語としない人の文も多いので、余り当てにはなりません。
それでも、“I like paprika”とか“I like pizza”の例からすると、Anne Crescini准教授の理屈も正解ではないことが分かりました。本当にすっきりする説明は見つかりませんでした。
Hello! My name is Simon.
I am from New Zealand, and have been living and teaching English in Japan since 1999.
（以下抜粋）
I like cabbage -- this is probably the most common way of saying this. (non-count usage)
I like cabbages -- this strikes me as a little odd. But it is possible, especially if you're referring to different types of cabbage. (I like red cabbage, and I like green cabbage, so I like cabbages). (count usage)
I like a cabbage -- can be used in colloquial English, but it would usually be followed by something, for example "I like a cabbage from time to time."
The problem arises because it's not clear if cabbage is a count noun or a non count noun. It can be thought of both ways.
If non count, then "I like cabbage" would be more ordinary. And if you bought one, you would say, "I bought a head of cabbage". (non count usage)
If count, then "I like cabbages" is fine, and when you go to the store, you buy a cabbage. (count usage)
"I like a cabbage" is colloquial, like "I like a good coffee from time to time." or "I like a good wine from time to time."
"How do I know which form to use?”
For some foods there is no hard and fast rule. Depending on who you ask, some people will tell you to use the countable form (e.g. green pepper)（注： uncountableの誤り？), and some will tell you to use the uncountable form (e.g. green peppers)（注：countableの誤り？）. The only way to know for sure is to google the word in a short sentence, in quotation marks (e.g. “I like green peppers.” / “I like green pepper.”) If one form has an overwhelming number of results compared to the other, then that is the form you should use.
Here are some examples I tried:
“I like pizza” – 1,540,000 results” / “I like pizzas” – 28,100 results”
“I like steak” – 195,000 results” / “I like steaks” – 71,900 results”
“I like ice cream” – 1,670,000 results” / “I like ice creams” – 223 results”
“I like watermelon” – 520,000 results” / “I like watermelons” – 84,300 results”
“I like paprika” – 20,900 results” / “I like paprikas” – 224 results”
Based on the above results, I would use the uncountable form of pizza, ice cream, and paprika. With steak and watermelon, the results are close enough that I think either form is fine.
So let’s try this test with green pepper(s):
“I like green pepper.” – 114 results” / “I like green peppers.” – 417 results”
It seems that both forms are fine. It’s just not a very popular food…
この方法はある程度は実用的だが、ネットの英語は英語を母国語としない人の文も多いので、余り当てにはなりません。
それでも、“I like paprika”とか“I like pizza”の例からすると、Anne Crescini准教授の理屈も正解ではないことが分かりました。本当にすっきりする説明は見つかりませんでした。
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