loaf of bread

Meaning

A 'loaf of bread' refers to a whole unit of bread that has been baked in one piece, which is usually sliced before eating. It is a common counter word used because 'bread' itself is uncountable in English. You use this phrase when shopping at a bakery or grocery store to specify the quantity you want.

Examples

• Could you pick up a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery on your way home?

  Could you pick up a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery on your way home?

• We need to buy a loaf of bread to make sandwiches for our picnic tomorrow.

  We need to buy a loaf of bread to make sandwiches for our picnic tomorrow.

• She sliced the whole loaf of bread and served it with warm soup.

  She sliced the whole loaf of bread and served it with warm soup.

• This local bakery sells a delicious sourdough loaf of bread.

  This local bakery sells a delicious sourdough loaf of bread.

• I forgot to buy a loaf of bread, so we have to eat cereal for breakfast.

  I forgot to buy a loaf of bread, so we have to eat cereal for breakfast.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I bought two breads from the supermarket.

  ✓ I bought two loaves of bread from the supermarket.

  Bread is uncountable. To count it, you must use 'loaf' (singular) or 'loaves' (plural).

• ✗ Can you pass me a loaf bread?

  ✓ Can you pass me a loaf of bread?

  You always need the preposition 'of' between the container or unit ('loaf') and the substance ('bread').

Related Expressions

Practice

• Please buy a fresh ___ from the bakery for our sandwiches.

  💡 A whole unit of baked bread.

  Show answer

  loaf of bread

• We can't make toast because we don't have a single ___ left.

  💡 The full, unsliced unit of bread.

  Show answer

  loaf of bread