Would you eat that?
Hello! Let’s talk about food. You’ll learn food words, when to say a or some, and how to order in a café. Then we’ll look at some very strange food from around the world.
Tap the blue buttons to hear me say things. Need help with the English? Choose your language at the bottom of the screen.
1Food words
What’s on the table?
Here are twelve foods. Tap each one to hear it. Listen carefully to the little word before it: a, an or some.
You’ve heard 0 of 12
Great! Did you notice? Some foods have a or an. Some foods have some. Let’s find out why.
2Can you count it?
One egg, two eggs… one rice?
Some food is easy to count. One egg, two eggs, three eggs.
Some food is not. Try counting rice! There are too many little bits. So we don’t say one rice or two rices. We just say some rice.
You can count it? Use a or an: a banana, an egg.
Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an egg, an orange.
You can’t count it? Use some: some rice, some milk.
Careful!
a bread → some bread, a slice of bread
two rices → some rice, two bowls of rice
a milk → some milk, a glass of milk
Food you can’t count has no a and no s.
3Counting food you can’t count
A cup of tea, a slice of cake
You can’t count bread. But you can count slices of bread! These words help you count food and drink.
Café tip: in a café, you can just say a coffee or two teas. Everyone knows you mean a cup.
4Tastes
Sweet, salty, sour, spicy, bitter
How does it taste? Tap a taste and watch the face!
Tap a taste.
British people say crisps. Americans say chips. In Britain, chips are hot and made from potatoes, like French fries.
Your turn
Finish this sentence out loud: My favourite sweet food is… Listen to my answer first. Then record yours.
5Food from around the world
Would you eat that?
People eat some amazing things around the world. Look at each photo and listen. Then be honest. Would you eat it?
Useful phrases
- It looks delicious!
- It looks a bit strange.
- I’d love to try it.
- No way! I’d never eat that!
6Real life
At the café
Now let’s use everything. You’re in a café in London, and I’m working there today. Choose what to say. Then say it out loud.
How much or how many?
Things you can count: How many…?
How many eggs do we need?
Things you can’t count: How much…?
How much milk do we need?
Prices: How much…?
How much is it?
7Quick check
How much do you remember?
Eight quick questions. No pressure!
Well done!
Here’s what you can do now.
- Say 12 food words
- Choose a, an or some
- Count food and drink: a slice of bread, a glass of water
- Say how food tastes
- Ask How much? and How many?
- Order food and drink in a café
Keep going
Photo credits
- Durian: “Durian fruit opened PJ DSC 0802.jpg” by Kembangraps, CC0 (source)
- Natto: “Natto mixed by Kinchan1.jpg” by Kinchan1, CC BY 2.0 (source)
- Century egg: “Century Egg with Pickled Ginger” by avlxyz, CC BY-SA 2.0 (source)
- Snails: “Escargots à la bourguignonne.jpg” by Thomon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
- Grasshoppers: “Chapulines with melt cheese.jpg” by Jj saezdeo, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
- Haggis: “A haggis serving.JPG” by Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)