Not all fruits are sweet.


Given sentence : Some fruit is sweet, but some isn't.


When I paraphrase the above into another,

1. which one is right.?

(1) Not all fruits are sweet.

(2) Not all fruit is sweet.


2. If both are right, is there any difference between them?

3. If answer 2 is right,

What if the given sentence were "Some fruits are sweet, some aren't"?

asked May 06 '11 at 12:19 Dean New member

1 answer


Because you're paraphrasing that specific sentence, the correct answer would be number 2. However, if you were paraphrasing the sentence that used "fruits are sweet," then number 1 would be correct.


The difference is that "fruit" can be used as both a singular and collective plural noun:



"fruit"= one individual

"fruits"= many individuals

Collective plural:

"fruit"= all types of fruit; not just a group of individuals


Saying "not all fruits are sweet" means that some individual pieces may be sour, bitter, tangy, etc. (for example, a sour, unripe apple). Saying "not all fruit is sweet" means that some kinds may be sour, bitter, tangy, etc. (for example, lemons).

link comment answered May 06 '11 at 19:03 Collane Ramsey Expert

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