"There were a lot of food" vs "There was a lot of fruit"

Question

"There were a lot of food" vs "There was a lot of fruit"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'There were a lot of food' is not commonly used because 'food' is usually an uncountable noun. On the other hand, 'there was a lot of fruit' is correct because 'fruit' is an uncountable noun. Therefore, 'there was a lot of fruit' is the more appropriate and commonly used phrase.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

Instead of using 'food' as a countable noun, it is better to use it as an uncountable noun. For countable nouns, use 'types of food' or 'dishes'.

Alternatives:

there was a lot of food
there were a lot of dishes
there were many types of food

Use 'there was a lot of fruit' when referring to a large quantity of fruit. 'Fruit' is treated as an uncountable noun in this context.

Alternatives:

there was a lot of produce
there was a large quantity of fruit
there was an abundance of fruit

Answer 1

There were a lot of food

This phrase is not commonly used in English. 'Food' is usually treated as an uncountable noun.

Answer 2

There was a lot of fruit

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. 'Fruit' is an uncountable noun.

"There were a lot of food" vs "There was a lot of fruit"

There were a lot of food

There was a lot of fruit

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