Generic sentence

Question

a)*A tiger is becoming almost extinct.

b)Tigers are becoming almost extinct.

c)The tiger is becoming almost extinct.

I've read a book where a) is only an ungrammatical sentence among the three. Is it right?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Yes.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

aramahosiI've read a book where a) is the only an ungrammatical sentence among the three. Is it right?

Yes, but becoming almostextinct is a rather strange concept. It's like becoming almost dead. Being almost extinct (or almost dead) is one step on the way toward becoming extinct (or dead), so the word "almost" is certainly not necessary.

To me, it's either Tigers are almost extinct or Tigers are becoming extinct.

CJ

Aramahosi · Answer

Thanks for your replies, Clive and CalifJim!

My understanding for the reason why a) is ungrammatical -

I grasp there are the three types expression for generic reference;

1)a+singular 2)plural 3)the+singular

1)A bull terrier makes an excellent watchdog.

2)Bull terriers make excellent watchdogs.

3)The bull terrier makes an excellent watchdog.

How the each patterns make generic references.

1)Taking out one bull terrier from the set of bull terriers and infering the whole traits of the species by regarding it as a representative example.

2)Taking out plural bull terriers from the set of them and infering the whole traits of the species by regarding them as representative examples.

3)Ignoring small deferencies of individual elements of the set and abstracting the prototype of the species which has its typical traits.

Thus, the reason why a) is wrong is that just observing only one tiger is not going for us to judge whether tigers are almost extinct or not unlike its number of nails, the way to walk and so on. We have to survey plural individuals.

How about this?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Sure, you can look at it that way.

Another way to look at it is that 'extinct' is an adjective that applies to a species.
eg You can say 'Mankind is extinct' (correct English, although not true

),
but you can't say 'My friend Tom was very ill. Now he's extinct'.

Clive

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