The cheetah and the jaguar

Question

As I was taking down English notes, an old question flashed through my head.
I was told that we can't say "My favorite animals are the dog and the cat" because the subject is well known to the listener and they know the massive variety that is encompased in the words "dog" and "cat". Namely, we are so familiar with them and we know there are my types of them.

But if the objects are all the same, for example iphone 7 and Samsung S7 Edge, then we can say "My favorite mobiles are iPhone 7 and the Samsung S7 Edge."(Meaning I like all the IPhone 7 and Samsung S7 Edge)

My question is, similarly, are sentences like the following correct? If the objects have only one type?
1. My favorite animals are the cheetah and the jaguar. (Because there are only one type of cheetah and only one type of jaguar.)
The cheetah and the jaguar are my favorite animals.
2. My favorite trademarks are the Casio and the Nike.(only one Casio and only one Nike)
3. My favorite birds are the magpie and the cuckoo.(only one type of magpi and only one type of cuckoo)

Thank you very much.

GPY · Accepted Answer

zuotengdazuoBut if the objects are all the same, for example iphone 7 and Samsung S7 Edge, then we can say "My favorite mobiles are the iPhone 7 and the Samsung S7 Edge."(Meaning I like all the IPhone 7 and Samsung S7 Edge)

Correct as amended.

zuotengdazuo1. My favorite animals are the cheetah and the jaguar.

Correct.

zuotengdazuo2. My favorite trademarks are the Casio and the Nike.

This one doesn't work. A trademark is one unique thing, not any of a set of individual items or objects like "cat" or "iPhone 7". You would say "My favorite trademarks are Casio and Nike", but it is weird to have a favourite trademark. Probably you mean "My favorite brands are Casio and Nike".

zuotengdazuo3. My favorite birds are the magpie and the cuckoo

Correct.

Fivejedjon · Answer

zuotengdazuoI was told that we can't say "My favorite animals are the dog and the cat"

Actually, we can, though we'd be more like to say 'My favorite animals are dogs and cats'.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

GPY zuotengdazuoBut if the objects are all the same, for example iphone 7 and Samsung S7 Edge, then we can say "My favorite mobiles are the iPhone 7 and the Samsung S7 Edge."(Meaning I like all the IPhone 7 and Samsung S7 Edge)Correct as amended.zuotengdazuo1. My favorite animals are the cheetah and the jaguar.Correct.zuotengdazuo2. My favorite trademarks are the Casio and the Nike.This one doesn't work. A trademark is one unique thing, not any of a set of individual items or objects like "cat" or "iPhone 7". You would say "My favorite trademarks are Casio and Nike", but it is weird to have a favourite trademark. Probably you mean "My favorite brands are Casio and Nike".zuotengdazuo3. My favorite birds are the magpie and the cuckooCorrect.

Thank you your explanation, Mr G.

My favorite A are the B and the C. This pattern only works when there is only one type of B and only one type of C or all the B are the same and all the C are the same. If B or C are a mixture of different items (or you are so familiar with them that you see them a broad range of objects, this pattern doesn't work.

Is the above understanding also correct?

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

fivejedjon Actually, we can, though we'd be more like to say 'My favorite animals are dogs and cats'.

Thank you, Mr five. I am surprised to hear that. My understanding may need amending now.

GPY · Answer

zuotengdazuoMy favorite A are the B and the C. This pattern only works when there is only one type of B and only one type of C or all the B are the same and all the C are the same. If B or C are a mixture of different items (or you are so familiar with them that you see them a broad range of objects, this pattern doesn't work.

Essentially yes. There may be quibbles around the edges, and whether something is considered "all one type" or "all the same" may depend on the writer's purpose. For example, in one sense there are many different types of computer, yet it is possible, when speaking generally, to say "The computer has changed people's lives".

Anonymous · Answer

zuotengdazuo"My favorite animals are the dog and the cat"

This is technically possible but strange. Generally, people would use the plurals dogs and cats because they have been mentioned in general, dogs and cats, rather any particular kinds of dogs and cats.

zuotengdazuoBecause there are only one type of cheetah

No. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheetah#Subspecies

zuotengdazuoonly one type of magpie and only one type of cuckoo

No. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magpie an d https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuckoo

For all the animals you mentioned, people would generally use their plurals ending in s, because they have been mentioned in general, rather any particular kinds or examples of them.

GPY · Answer

AnonymousNo. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheetah#Subspecies

By saying "The cheetah and the jaguar are my favorite animals", you are ignoring this level of detail and treating them all as the same, in my view. While it would be odd to say "My favorite animal is the mammal", since mammals are so disparate, I see no problem with cheetahs, jaguars, magpies etc. since at an everyday level, at least within a locale, they can be treated as near enough the same.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

Thank you all very much. I see.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

The cheetah and the jaguar

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