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Adonis1013 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

The differences bwtween lions and the lions.

Hello,

Could you exolain the differences between "lions" and "the lions"?

1. Lions are very fierce. Does they refer to the all lions in the world?

2. The lions are very fierce. How about this?

Thank you for your answer.
  

Top answer

adonis1013 1. Lions are very fierce. Does they this refer to the all lions in the world?

— CalifJim

  • adonis1013 1.
  • Lions are very fierce.
  • Does they this refer to the all lions in the world?
  • Yes, the indefinite plural can be used for generic reference.
  • Lions are fierce; rabbits are furry; whales are enormous.
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4 Answers
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adonis10131. Lions are very fierce. Does they this refer to the all lions in the world?
Yes, the indefinite plural can be used for generic reference.

Lions are fierce; rabbits are furry; whales are enormous.
adonis10132. The lions are very fierce. How about this?
No. The definite plural would not be u
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Oddly enough, though, "The lion is very fierce" can refer either to a specific lion or to lions in general. (As a general statement, it's not as common as "Lions are very fierce," but it does turn up now and then.) Things like this make me very glad I don't have to learn English as a foreign language.
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I'm with CJ on that. The generic usage should be somehow supported by context, for example:

"The lion is a very fierce animal/creature."
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Anonymous"The lion is a very fierce animal/creature."
You're right, Anon., that does make it more clear that it's a general reference.
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