[Grammar] A leader/leaders? and a company/companies?

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Mensu

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Hi,

I'm still puzzled over the use of "a Noun" and "Noun s" when I mean "Noun" in general. I think it's difficult to figure out some rules to use them.

So I'd just like to ask: Would the four of the following sentences work in particular circumstances?

1. A terrible leader always destroys a nice company.
2. A terrible leader always destroys nice companies.
3. Terrible leaders always destroy a nice company.
4. Terrible leaders always destroy nice companies.
(Thanks for charliedeut's corrections!)

As you may see, I mean both "leader" and "company" are in general.

Would they possibly be correct and natural?

Thank you in advance.
 
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charliedeut

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Hi,

I'm still puzzled over the use of "a Noun" and "Noun s" when I mean "Noun" in general. I think it's difficult to figure out some rules to use them.

So I'd just like to ask: Would the four of the following sentences work in particular circumstances?

1. A terrible leader always destroys a nice company.
2. A terrible leader always destroys nice companies.
3. Terrible leaders always destroy[no s] a nice company.
4. Terrible leaders always destroy[no s] nice companies.

As you may see, I mean both "leader" and "company" are in general.

Would they possibly be correct and natural?

Thank you in advance.

IMO, with the corrections made, they could be possible in the right context. Not sure about how natural they are, although they do not sound bad when read aloud.
 
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MikeNewYork

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Hi,

I'm still puzzled over the use of "a Noun" and "Noun s" when I mean "Noun" in general. I think it's difficult to figure out some rules to use them.

So I'd just like to ask: Would the four of the following sentences work in particular circumstances?

1. A terrible leader always destroys a nice company.
2. A terrible leader always destroys nice companies.
3. Terrible leaders always destroys a nice company.
4. Terrible leaders always destroys nice companies.

As you may see, I mean both "leader" and "company" are in general.

Would they possibly be correct and natural?

Thank you in advance.

The only one I would qustion is 3, but that would be possible in certain contexts.
 

Mensu

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China
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Thank both of you very much!
I was wondering when to use them. I will talk about my opinion. Could you help me check my use?

1. A terrible leader always destroys a nice company.
I think it has the same meaning as #4. If I just talk about this argument in general idea, I will say one of #1 and #4.

2. A terrible leader always destroys nice companies.
→If I'm telling a story about a person who destroys several nice companies himself, I will use it at the beginning or the end of the story.

3. Terrible leaders always destroy a nice company.
If I'm telling a story about several corrupt leaders who destroy a certain company, I will use it at the beginning or the end of the story.

4. Terrible leaders always destroy nice companies.
→#1
 
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