Messifan
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2020
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Bengali; Bangla
- Home Country
- India
- Current Location
- India
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
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