Taste vs. Tastes – Which is Correct?
Both taste and tastes are correct English words, but they serve different grammatical roles. Taste can be a noun meaning flavor or a verb meaning perceive flavor. Tastes is the plural noun or third-person singular verb. Context determines which form belongs in a sentence, so neither word is a misspelling.
Taste or Tastes – Which is Correct?
Taste and tastes are both correct American English words. The correct choice depends on the sentence. Taste is the base form of the noun and verb, while tastes can be the plural of the noun or the third-person singular form of the verb.
As a noun, taste can refer to the flavor of something, a person’s ability to detect flavors, or someone’s preferences. As a verb, taste means to sample or perceive flavor. Tastes refers to multiple flavors or preferences, or it describes what one person or thing does: “She tastes the soup.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the subject test. If the subject is I, you, we, they, use taste: “They taste the sauce.” If the subject is he, she, it, add -s: “She tastes the sauce.” When you mean more than one flavor or preference, use the plural noun tastes.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| taste | Noun or verb | A flavor, preference, or the act of perceiving flavor | I taste cinnamon in the cake. |
| tastes | Plural noun or verb | More than one flavor or what one person or thing does | She tastes the soup before serving it. |
How to Use Taste
Taste is the base form of both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it can describe a flavor, the sense used to detect flavor, or a person’s preferences. As a verb, it can mean to sample food or drink, detect a flavor, or have a particular flavor. It is common in casual, professional, academic, and culinary writing.
Use taste after plural subjects and the pronouns I, you, we, and they. It also follows modal verbs such as can, may, and will.
Example 1: I taste a hint of lemon in the dressing.
Example 2: The dish has a rich, smoky taste.
Example 3: They taste several varieties of cheese during the workshop.
Etymology of the Word Taste
Taste comes from the Old French word taster, meaning “to touch, feel, or taste,” which developed from the Latin taxare, meaning “to evaluate” or “to assess.” In English, the word gradually developed meanings connected with flavor, sensory perception, judgment, and personal preference.
How to Use Tastes
Tastes has two main uses. First, it is the plural form of the noun taste, referring to several flavors, preferences, or styles. Second, it is the third-person singular present-tense form of the verb taste, used with he, she, or it.
As a plural noun, tastes often refers to individual preferences, as in “musical tastes” or “different tastes in food.” As a verb, it means that one person or singular thing samples or perceives flavor.
Example 1: The restaurant offers tastes from several regional cuisines.
Example 2: She tastes the sauce and adds more salt.
Example 3: His artistic tastes have changed over the years.
What Are the Different Forms of Tastes?
Tastes is not a separate base word with its own unrelated forms. It is formed from taste by adding -s. As a noun, it is the regular plural of taste. As a verb, it is the third-person singular present-tense form: he tastes, she tastes, or it tastes. Other verb forms include tasted and tasting.
Etymology of the Word Tastes
Tastes comes from the English word taste combined with the regular -s ending. The ending marks either plurality in the noun or third-person singular agreement in the present-tense verb.
Related Concepts
Understanding parts of speech and subject-verb agreement makes the difference between taste and tastes much easier to recognize.
- Subject-verb agreement: A singular third-person subject usually takes a verb ending in -s in the present tense. For example, “She tastes the fruit,” but “They taste the fruit.”
- Singular and plural nouns: A singular noun names one item, while a plural noun names more than one. Thus, “a taste” becomes “tastes” when referring to several flavors or preferences.
- Context: The surrounding words reveal whether taste or tastes is functioning as a noun or a verb.
- Subjective preference: The noun taste can describe personal judgment, such as taste in clothing, music, art, or food.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how taste and tastes appear in familiar real-world contexts:
- Cookbooks and food journalism: Recipes commonly use taste in instructions such as “Season to taste,” meaning that the cook should adjust the seasoning according to preference.
- Restaurant reviews: A reviewer may describe the “taste” of a dish or compare the different tastes produced by herbs, spices, and cooking methods.
- Literary descriptions: Authors often use taste to create sensory imagery, describing how a character tastes salt, smoke, fruit, or metal.
- Arts and entertainment coverage: Articles may discuss a person’s changing tastes in music, cinema, fashion, or literature.
- Everyday conversation: Someone may say, “This tastes sweet,” while discussing the flavor of a single food or drink.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- I can ___ the garlic in the sauce.
- She ___ the tea before adding honey.
- People have different ___ in music.
- These berries ___ slightly tart.
- The chef prepared several ___ of the traditional dish.
Answer Key
- taste
- tastes
- tastes
- taste
- tastes
Taste Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Flavor | The distinctive quality of food or drink perceived by the senses. |
| Sample | To try a small amount of food or drink. |
| Savor | To enjoy or appreciate a flavor slowly and carefully. |
| Preference | A greater liking for one option over another. |
| Judgment | A person’s opinion about what is attractive, appropriate, or appealing. |
Tastes Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Flavors | Distinctive qualities or sensations of different foods and drinks. |
| Preferences | Things that people like or favor. |
| Samples | Tries a small amount of something to assess it. |
| Savors | Enjoys or appreciates a flavor gradually. |
| Judgments | Opinions or evaluations about quality, style, or suitability. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “taste” or “tastes” correct?
Both are correct. Use taste as the base noun or verb, and use tastes as the plural noun or the third-person singular present-tense verb.
Question 2: Is it “it taste good” or “it tastes good”?
The correct sentence is “It tastes good.” The singular subject it requires the third-person singular verb form tastes.
Question 3: What is the plural of “taste”?
The plural is tastes. For example, “The menu combines the tastes of several cultures.”
Question 4: Is “taste” a noun or a verb?
It can be either. As a noun, it means a flavor, sensory ability, or preference. As a verb, it means to sample or perceive flavor.
Question 5: Should I say “different taste” or “different tastes”?
Use different tastes when referring to multiple flavors or preferences. Use a different taste when referring to one distinct flavor or preference.
Conclusion
Taste and tastes are both correct, but they have different grammatical functions. Choose taste for the base noun or verb, and choose tastes for plural nouns or singular third-person verbs. Pro Tip: Correct subject-verb agreement and precise word choice strengthen your professional reputation in every form of writing.
