General statements: "the+singular form" or "plural form"
Hi everybody,
I know that we can use "the+singular noun" instead of plural forms to make a general statement:
(1) (The computer)/ (computers) has brought about huge changes in education.
==> Here both "the computer" and "computers" are correct to use.
(2) Online learning requires (the teacher’s assistance)/ (teachers’ assistance) and involvement.
==> Here both form are correct to use.
But when I make my own sentence and apply the same rule above, my native friend say that my sentence is wrong with "the+singular form":
(3) Meals should contain various nutrients.
==>This sentence is correct.
(4) The meal should contain various nutrients.
==> But this sentence is considered wrong. Could you please give me an explanation when I can use "the +singular noun" is correct to use rather than plural forms in general statements.
Thank you.
Top answer
LE HANH 2383 I know that we can use "the+singular noun" instead of plural forms to make a general statement Yes, but actually not always. You have to be sure there is no particular referent that might accidentally be meant, so you should make sure the predicate can't be applied to a single instance of that noun. For example, The dog is hungry does not make a generic statement, nor does The wolf belongs to a pack of wolves .
- LE HANH 2383 I know that we can use "the+singular noun" instead of plural forms to make a general statement Yes, but actually not always.
- You have to be sure there is no particular referent that might accidentally be meant, so you should make sure the predicate can't be applied to a single instance of that noun.
- For example, The dog is hungry does not make a generic statement, nor does The wolf belongs to a pack of wolves .
- Yet both statements have a subject with 'the'.
- Further, The elephant is a very large, gray animal is generic whereas The elephant exceeds two tons in weight is not necessarily generic; it could be a reference to one particular elephant in comparison to a (particular) whale which exceeds three tons in weight.
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LE HANH 2383I know that we can use "the+singular noun" instead of plural forms to make a general statement
Yes, but actually not always. You have to be sure there is no particular referent that might accidentally be meant, so you should make sure the predicate can't be applied to a single instance of that noun. For example, The dog is hungry does n
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