"えんぴつとペンをかいました。"

Translation: I bought pencils and pens.

[Akire321]

How am I supposed to know it was only one pen without ippon attached? If it automatically implies only one without a counter attached, why isn't it a pen and a pencil?

[JacobRW]

Yeah, I got it wrong with "I bought a pencil and pen." How am I supposed to know if it's plural or not without context or a counter. I think if you were to actually say this without context it could be taken either way. Somewhat like if you were to say "I bought food" in English. You didn't specify if you bought one thing or several things.

[V2Blast]

Right now the suggested translation has it as "pencils and pens".

[Lindsey1151188]

I bought a pen and pencils is incorrect how?

[darkwinx]

It is the order.

[Scott827167]

And the order is meaningless in and translation

[TeejayHerb1]

Yes. But Duolingo is testing you if you know what えんぴつ and ペン are. So order in the answer is important.

[Gizmo6493]

It's not about the order, they used "a pen". I got it right with "I bought pens and pencils."

[dantan94]

Ah but did you buy the pineapple?

[haruue]

鉛筆とペン(pen)を買いました。

[JasonDale1]

Thanks teejay makes sense, i was about to rage but your logic calmed me :)

[Samhitha291351]

Touchscreen is selectively responsive

[Kayl575411]

The audio sounds like ペン is pronounced 'て', which really bugs me.

[CaseyLedger]

Is there any way to know "pencils and pens" are pluralized in the sentence? Or is it assumed like most other things?