They have apples/apple

[lingkky]

The children got themseves an apple.Each of them has an apple.

(They have apple/apples.)

apple or apples is correct in the sentence in the bracket if each of the children has an apple?

 

[heypresto]

We wouldn't say 'They have apple/apples', we would say 'They each have an apple'.

 

[lingkky]

If I say "they have an apple".

Does it work if the word "each"is missing?

 

[Englishmypassion]

It'd mean they all have collectively only one apple.

 

[lingkky]

if I say

"they have apples."

I think it is now correct.

am I right??

 

[Englishmypassion]

That's ambiguous. It could mean each person has only one apple or more than one apple. That's why you were advised to include "each".

Note: Sentences start with capital letters.

 

[heypresto]

That's ambiguous. It could mean each person has only one apple or more than one apple. That's why you were advised to include "each".

Note: Sentences start with capital letters.

Please re-read my post #2.

 

[lingkky]

ok.thank you.I think it is ok if I just want to mention that they have apples to eat.

 

[lingkky]

th

Please re-read my post #2.

thank you

 

[Franco-filly]

"they have apples."

That's ambiguous. It could mean each person has only one apple or more than one apple

..or that they have some apples between them but not sufficient to have one each!

 

[lingkky]

..or that they have some apples between them but not sufficient to have one each!

if like that,I would say

"they have enough apples to eat."

to show they have sufficient apples by adding the word "enough"

 

[Franco-filly]

I would say
"they have enough apples to eat."
to show they have sufficient apples by adding the word "enough"

You would still really need to add "one each" to indicate that they are not quartering the apples or cooking them and serving a spoonful each.

 

[ForHere]

At least based on usage, you can say They have apple (or I have apple: the pronoun is not an issue), and it would be correct for any number of apples that is one or more, shared or not shared. I do not see why should this differ from saying, for example, Jane goes to medical school even though she does not go to every one of them, or I visited that city even though I did not visit every place in that city.

 

[velisarius]

"They have an apple" is ambiguous. In context, it isn't.

The children have an apple after lunch. (I would understand that each child has an apple).

The children have an apple, and have been told to share it. (There's only one apple).

 

[Loob]

you can say They have apple (or I have apple: the pronoun is not an issue)

Welcome to the forums, ForHere!

If you say "They have apple", this suggests that what they have is a quantity of cooked apple, not individual apples.

 

[Wordy McWordface]

At least based on usage, you can say They have apple (or I have apple: the pronoun is not an issue), and it would be correct for any number of apples that is one or more, shared or not shared.

Welcome to the forum, but I'm afraid that your suggestion is not correct at all, @ForHere. They have apple does not mean that they have an unspecified number of apples. As Loob has explained, They have apple would suggest that they have a quantity of cooked apple, perhaps in the form of a mush or puree; it cannot refer to individual apples. In some contexts, it could also refer to flavour or type of something else. For example, if you ask what kind of juice people have, you could answer They have apple.

Apart from a few very specific exceptions (such as when discussing farm or game animals), you cannot use the uncountable form of a noun to refer to individual countable items. The uncountable or 'mass' form of a noun refers to an uncountable amount - it does not denote an unspecified number.

The sentences about attending medical school and visiting a city have no bearing on this issue.