Subj : A pie
To   : Gleb Hlebov
From : Alexander Koryagin
Date : Thu Dec 07 2023 09:02:46


Hi, Gleb Hlebov!
I read your message from 05.12.2023 12:56

 AK>> Well, a pie can be cut into portions, but anyway it should
 AK>> theoretically remained a pie. IMPOV. ;)

 GH> Sometimes it may not work this way. E. g. talking about food, you
 GH> can hear something along the lines of:

 GH> "...Nutella has become out comfort food, we like it with banana or
 GH> pretzels."

Nutella is like ice-cream, it is understandable.
out ?-> our
banana ?-> bananas

 GH> Many types of food (besides pie, cake, ice cream, candy etc.) can
 GH> be referred to as uncountable when served in slices, even if you
 GH> still think of it as "countable".

 GH> On the other hand, mentioned as a dish, like a menu item you may
 GH> order in a cafe or restaurant, it should be referred to as
 GH> countable:
 GH> "...They got a cherry pie there that'll kill ya!"
 GH> So, again, it's complicated.

I think that the matter is simpler. When they say in the dictionary that pie is both countable and uncountable in use they just mean that you _can_ put an indefinite article before "pie", or you are free not to put it. The same situation with steak:

"I had steak and kidney pie with chips"
but probably is also correct
"I had a steak and (a) kidney pie with chips"

I also suspect that the more the speech is informal the less articles it contains. ;-)

Bye, Gleb!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2023

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