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syoshioka99
Joined: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 185
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:25 am Post subject: A question from Japan!!!!! |
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I found this information in Practical English Usage Second Edition by Michael Swan (2004) p.62.
We can also generalise by talking about one example of a class, using a/an (meaning 'any') with a singular countable noun.
A baby deer can stand as soon as it's born.
A child needs plenty of love.
Note that we cannot use a/an in this way when we are generalising about all of the members of a group together.
The tiger is in danger of becoming extinct.
(Not A tiger is in danger of becoming extinct. The sentence is about the whole tiger family, not about individuals.)
According to the information above, can I say...?
A penguin cannot fly.
I found this sentence above in my textbook, which seems strange to me since the whole penguin family cannot fly, I think "The penguin cannot fly." is the right answer.
Is that right?
syoshioka99 |
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MauraS
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
Posts: 97
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: |
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The difference is in thinking about them individually or as a group. "The tiger is in danger of becoming extinct" talks about them all together. As a group they can become extinct but not individually.
Individually "a penguin cannot fly", but it also describes them as a group, "the penguin cannot fly." I would say you can use either one, but nothing is wrong with saying "a penguin cannot fly". |
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| MauraS wrote: |
| Individually "a penguin cannot fly", but it also describes them as a group, "the penguin cannot fly." I would say you can use either one, but nothing is wrong with saying "a penguin cannot fly". |
That sounds right. Both are correct, but which you use would depend on the context.
If you are talking about penguins as one kind of bird among many kinds, then "a" would be appropriate.
Penguins must hike many miles from their mating grounds to the ocean to feed because a penguin cannot fly like most other birds.
Talking about penguins in and of themselves as a species, then "the" would be best.
Penguin mating grounds are far from the ocean. They must hike many miles to reach their food source because the penguin cannot fly. |
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