0
EvilsEye Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Pleas have a look at these sentences and give me your opinion
Please have a look at these sentences
what I am interested in knowing is that how can a sentence be consider a GENERIC sentence. I have three different examples each have three sentences. Please have a look at my comments and let me know if I am on right track or not and also tell me the reason if I am wrong and the rule of its being acceptalbe or not.
1@ a. Whales are an endangered species b.The whale is an endangered species c. A whale is an endangered species.
@a. it is generic because it referes to all the whales
@b. it can't be generic because it is talking about a specific whale so it can't be generalized
@c. again it can't be generic as it is talking about one whale
2@ a. Zebras have striped coats b. the Zebra has a striped coat c. A Zebra has a striped coat.
@a. It is acceptalbe generic sentence because it referes to all zebras.
@b. it is possible sentence but not generic as it is specifying one zebra.
@c. again it is a possible sentence but but cant be generic as it talks about one zebra
3@ a. Liquids have no shape b. a liquid has no shape c. the liquid has no shape.
@a. possible generic sentence as it is saying all liquids have no shape
@b. not possible generic as liquid is uncountable so article a cannot be use and also even if article a is acceptable but it still couldnt be generic since it is refering to one liquid not generalizing.
@c. cannot be generic as it is specifying the liquid so cant be generalized.
what I am interested in knowing is that how can a sentence be consider a GENERIC sentence. I have three different examples each have three sentences. Please have a look at my comments and let me know if I am on right track or not and also tell me the reason if I am wrong and the rule of its being acceptalbe or not.
1@ a. Whales are an endangered species b.The whale is an endangered species c. A whale is an endangered species.
@a. it is generic because it referes to all the whales
@b. it can't be generic because it is talking about a specific whale so it can't be generalized
@c. again it can't be generic as it is talking about one whale
2@ a. Zebras have striped coats b. the Zebra has a striped coat c. A Zebra has a striped coat.
@a. It is acceptalbe generic sentence because it referes to all zebras.
@b. it is possible sentence but not generic as it is specifying one zebra.
@c. again it is a possible sentence but but cant be generic as it talks about one zebra
3@ a. Liquids have no shape b. a liquid has no shape c. the liquid has no shape.
@a. possible generic sentence as it is saying all liquids have no shape
@b. not possible generic as liquid is uncountable so article a cannot be use and also even if article a is acceptable but it still couldnt be generic since it is refering to one liquid not generalizing.
@c. cannot be generic as it is specifying the liquid so cant be generalized.
Top answer
1b. It is generic; this is a common way of indicating a species (the lion = the lion species) 1c. It can be generic, but it is not a good way of indicating it.
- 1b.
- It is generic; this is a common way of indicating a species (the lion = the lion species) 1c.
- It can be generic, but it is not a good way of indicating it.
- e.
- the word 'species' is the only think that makes #1c a little odd).
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
1b. It is generic; this is a common way of indicating a species (the lion = the lion species)
1c. It can be generic, but it is not a good way of indicating it.
2- My comments for #2 are the same as for #1 except that #2c is common and acceptable as a generic statement, since it can certainly have its own coat (i.e. the word 'species' is the only think that makes
1c. It can be generic, but it is not a good way of indicating it.
2- My comments for #2 are the same as for #1 except that #2c is common and acceptable as a generic statement, since it can certainly have its own coat (i.e. the word 'species' is the only think that makes
0
Related Questions