Definite article, indefinite article and zero articles

[Messifan]

Could you please tell me the difference? Before animals can we use the to refer to a whole species. Is it also applicable to fruits?

What is the difference between these?

A- The mango is a juicy fruit.B
B- A mango is a juicy fruit.

C- Mangoes are juicy fruits.


D- Like the ant, the bee lives in a group and its nest is called hive.

E- Like an ant, a bee lives in a group and its nest is called hive.

F- Like ants, bees live in a group and its nest is called hive.


My grammar book says we use the to refer a whole species. And there is an example saying 'The giraffe is the longest animal.'


I asked almost the same question yesterday on a site. And the teacher said that 'the ant, the bee' should be 'ants, bees'. But why so!! Because bees and ants have so many varieties and I want to refer them all. Could you please explain this for me.


https://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageReferWholeSpecies/bxqmcg/post.htm#sc2671280

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, messifan.

Thank you for giving the link to the other forum on which you posted the very similar question. However, I suggest you wait a week for the topic to be fully debated on EF, after which you can ask us again here if you are still not satisfied with the answers you received there.

In the meantime, you are very welcome to ask us different questions.