[General] Pumas are large animals vs A puma is a large animal

Status
Not open for further replies.

cubezero3

Member
Joined
May 6, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America.

Will the meaning of the quoted sentence be materially altered if I rewrite it as A puma is a large, cat-like animal which is found in America?

I would presume they both convey the same meaning.

Then there is the question. What factor would influence your choice, making you choose one instead of the other? Or perhaps it really doesn’t matter.

Many thanks

Richard
 

BobK

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2006
Location
Spencers Wood, near Reading, UK
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
You're right to think that they convey broadly the same meaning. Which one you choose will depend on your focus. In a reference book you would see 'Pumas are large animals' or even 'The puma is a large animal' - where 'The puma' is used generically.

If you were telling a story about walking through a jungle, and suddenly seeing a puma, you might say 'I turned a corner and was suddenly confronted by this huge puma. Now a puma is a large animal, and I was pretty scared. Luckily, though, he was intent on <whatever> etc etc...'

b
 

Khosro

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
very nice explaination. thank you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top