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Can " one example of " be used to describe two examples as follows? In my language, these sentences sound natural.

  1. Sushi and Tempura are one example of Japanese foods.
  2. Sushi and Peking duck are one example of Japanese and Chinese foods, respectively.
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    Sushi and Tempura are two examples of Japanese foods. Sushi and Peking duck are one example each of Japanese and Chinese foods, respectively.
    – Michael Harvey
    Commented Feb 1, 2022 at 8:25
  • I think it would depend on the food, since for example when you say ‘fish and chips’ (at least in the U.K) you are referring to one meal, that being fish and chips.
    – Buzzyy
    Commented Feb 1, 2022 at 9:03
  • No. You don't use singular verbs with plural objects in English.
    – FeliniusRex - gone
    Commented Feb 1, 2022 at 18:27

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Neither is correct. In your first statement, you have two examples. In the second, you have two examples from two different groups. They should say:

  • Sushi and Tempura are examples of Japanese food.
  • Sushi and Peking duck are examples of Japanese and Chinese foods, respectively.

An exception to this would be if the name of a dish combined two items, for example, "rice and peas is an example of Jamaican food".

You'll notice that, in example 1, I have made 'food' singular. When speaking about a specific cuisine as a whole, we normally use the singular. However, in example 2, it is correct to use the plural because you are speaking about 2 different kinds of food.

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