Sometimes we use a noun to talk about a whole group of people, places, things or animals. When we do, this is called a generic noun. A generic noun refers to something in general.

Phrases with articles and generic nouns can be made in three ways.

  Article Generic Noun Sentence
no article + plural or noncount nouns - dolphins Dolphins are extremely clever animals.
- development Often, development comes at the expense of preservation.
a/an + singular count nouns an octopus An octopus can kill a human in just a few minutes.
a house A house can be a lot of work to maintain.
the + singular count nouns the raccoon The raccoon has a distinct black and white tail.
the airplane Travelling has been greatly impacted by the airplane.

Often when talking about things in general, you can choose which of the three types of sentences you want to use. Usually, 'the' is only used in more formal or technical settings.

no article Robins lay blue eggs.
a/an A robin lays blue eggs.
the The robin lays blue eggs.

In the example above, the first sentence is the most common and natural-sounding sentence. This is the best structure to use when talking generally about animals or things we like or dislike.

Sharks have an incredible sense of smell.

Lions are fierce hunters.

Ants exist on every continent except Antarctica.

I don't like pizza.

I enjoy hiking and snorkelling.

I love horses.

Generic nouns must be used in sentences where the topic is general and not specific. Otherwise, you need to choose an appropriate article for your sentence.

The article 'the' cannot be used with a plural noun generically. Any time 'the' is used with a plural or noncount noun, it refers to things specifically.

Generic The orangutan carries its baby on its back.
(This is a generic comment about all orangutans.)
Specific The orangutans carry their babies on their backs.
(This is about specific orangutans that you are looking at or talking about.)

Exercise

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Exercises

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