Meaning & use
English apple
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableBritish
An apple variety traditionally grown in England, often a dessert apple eaten fresh.
Grammar: Countable; use 'an' before a vowel sound: an English apple.
Patterns
- an English apple
- English apples
She packed an English apple in her lunch bag.
The market sells English apples alongside imported ones.
This English apple has a crisp, sweet flavor.
nouncountableBritish
A dessert apple, as opposed to a cooking apple, in British usage.
Grammar: Countable; often in the plural when talking about the category.
Patterns
- English apples
- a variety of English apple
For the tart, use English apples rather than sour cooking apples.
He prefers English apples for snacking.
Word forms
| plural | English apples |
|---|
Common combinations
- English apple variety
- The orchard grows several English apple varieties.
- English apple orchard
- They visited an English apple orchard in Kent.
- a crisp English apple
- A crisp English apple is perfect for a picnic.
- English apple pie
- She baked an English apple pie for the fair.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dessert apple
- Use 'dessert apple' when contrasting with cooking apples; 'English apple' emphasizes origin.
- eating apple
- Similar to 'dessert apple'; 'English apple' may also imply a traditional English variety.
Opposites
Word family
- apple noun
- The general fruit; 'English apple' is a specific type.
Commonly confused: English apple or French apple?
English apple vs French apple
Refers to apples from France; 'English apple' specifies English origin.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'English apple' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct form is 'an English apple' because 'English' starts with a vowel sound and 'apple' is a countable noun. 'A English apple' is wrong because 'a' is used before consonant sounds. 'English apple' without an article is incorrect for a singular countable noun. 'The English apple' is possible in specific contexts but not the general statement here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “English apple”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.