Same general reference to the species?

Question

Hi. Please help. I believe we put the definite article "the" before a singular noun like "wolf" to make a general reference to the species of the wolf. And I think the example sentence below is correct grammatically. (I'm not sure whether the statement is true or not, though and I'm not attesting to its validity.) Please note the underlined part.

The population of the wolf has been declining sharply in recent years.

Now, could we be making the same general reference to the species of the wolf if we changed the part "The population of the wolf" to "The wolf's population" like this? Please note the underlined part.

The wolf's population has been declining sharply in recent years.

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

1. Ok

2. The wolf population... (~~not the wolf's population~~ ...)

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you. I'm focusing on the possessive form like "the wolf's eating habit." Could we use the words "the wolf" in the phrase "the wolf's eating habit," like the example sentence below, to mean the species of the wolf generally? Again, I just made up the example sentence and am not attesting to its validity. Thank you in advance for your help.

The wolf's eating habit has changed somewhat in recent years.

Ivanhr · Answer

AnonymousThe wolf's eating habit has changed somewhat in recent years.

The wolf's eating habits have changed somewhat in recent years

Anonymous · Answer

Anonymousspecies of the wolf.

It's possible, but awkward. It would be simpler just to use the plural, wolves.

AnonymousThe population of the wolf has been declining sharply in recent years.

Would be simpler as: The population of wolves has been declining sharply in recent years. or; The wolf population has been declining sharply in recent years.

Same general reference to the species?

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