Reason for “the” as whole class





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I am learning uses of articles.



And the book i am using tells that



"article the is used when a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class"



For example
The cow is a useful animal.



I want to know the reason how the above example represents a class.
How can I prove it represents a whole class



This question seems foolish but I am really confused please help me



And correct me where I am wrong










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    0















    I am learning uses of articles.



    And the book i am using tells that



    "article the is used when a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class"



    For example
    The cow is a useful animal.



    I want to know the reason how the above example represents a class.
    How can I prove it represents a whole class



    This question seems foolish but I am really confused please help me



    And correct me where I am wrong










    share|improve this question














    bumped to the homepage by Community 7 mins ago


    This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.


















      0












      0








      0








      I am learning uses of articles.



      And the book i am using tells that



      "article the is used when a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class"



      For example
      The cow is a useful animal.



      I want to know the reason how the above example represents a class.
      How can I prove it represents a whole class



      This question seems foolish but I am really confused please help me



      And correct me where I am wrong










      share|improve this question














      I am learning uses of articles.



      And the book i am using tells that



      "article the is used when a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class"



      For example
      The cow is a useful animal.



      I want to know the reason how the above example represents a class.
      How can I prove it represents a whole class



      This question seems foolish but I am really confused please help me



      And correct me where I am wrong







      grammar






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Oct 15 '18 at 10:22









      user273747user273747

      11




      11





      bumped to the homepage by Community 7 mins ago


      This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.







      bumped to the homepage by Community 7 mins ago


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          Class literally just refers to groups. In that example, it’s equivalent to saying “Cows are useful animals.” For instance, “The dog is man’s best friend.” Here you’re not talking about a particular dog, but dogs in general. You can also say “The cook must taste what he cooks.” Cook here refers to all cooks.



          However, “the” does have another meaning and it’s important not to confuse the two. The other meaning also acts like an article, but refers to a specific object. “The cow is dead.” Cow here does not refer to all cows, but a particular cow (maybe in front of you or something). This is to refer to something that’s has already been mentioned before, or that you’re already pointing at it. “The” here is synonymous to “that”.






          share|improve this answer































            0














            The construction you ask about is called a Generic noun phrase; this kind is a Definite Generic.



            You should know, however, that there is no single rule for use of articles. Instead, there are hundreds of individual rules for special cases, particular noun phrases, idioms, and syntactic constructions like this one. And each case has to be recognized and memorized separately, because they don't correlate with one another.



            The and a/an are just markers, like flags of one color or another, that indicate specific usages and don't have any meaning themselves. Asking how to use the is like asking how to use the color red; there aren't any general rules, only specific ones, and everything depends on the context.






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              Class literally just refers to groups. In that example, it’s equivalent to saying “Cows are useful animals.” For instance, “The dog is man’s best friend.” Here you’re not talking about a particular dog, but dogs in general. You can also say “The cook must taste what he cooks.” Cook here refers to all cooks.



              However, “the” does have another meaning and it’s important not to confuse the two. The other meaning also acts like an article, but refers to a specific object. “The cow is dead.” Cow here does not refer to all cows, but a particular cow (maybe in front of you or something). This is to refer to something that’s has already been mentioned before, or that you’re already pointing at it. “The” here is synonymous to “that”.






              share|improve this answer




























                0














                Class literally just refers to groups. In that example, it’s equivalent to saying “Cows are useful animals.” For instance, “The dog is man’s best friend.” Here you’re not talking about a particular dog, but dogs in general. You can also say “The cook must taste what he cooks.” Cook here refers to all cooks.



                However, “the” does have another meaning and it’s important not to confuse the two. The other meaning also acts like an article, but refers to a specific object. “The cow is dead.” Cow here does not refer to all cows, but a particular cow (maybe in front of you or something). This is to refer to something that’s has already been mentioned before, or that you’re already pointing at it. “The” here is synonymous to “that”.






                share|improve this answer


























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  Class literally just refers to groups. In that example, it’s equivalent to saying “Cows are useful animals.” For instance, “The dog is man’s best friend.” Here you’re not talking about a particular dog, but dogs in general. You can also say “The cook must taste what he cooks.” Cook here refers to all cooks.



                  However, “the” does have another meaning and it’s important not to confuse the two. The other meaning also acts like an article, but refers to a specific object. “The cow is dead.” Cow here does not refer to all cows, but a particular cow (maybe in front of you or something). This is to refer to something that’s has already been mentioned before, or that you’re already pointing at it. “The” here is synonymous to “that”.






                  share|improve this answer













                  Class literally just refers to groups. In that example, it’s equivalent to saying “Cows are useful animals.” For instance, “The dog is man’s best friend.” Here you’re not talking about a particular dog, but dogs in general. You can also say “The cook must taste what he cooks.” Cook here refers to all cooks.



                  However, “the” does have another meaning and it’s important not to confuse the two. The other meaning also acts like an article, but refers to a specific object. “The cow is dead.” Cow here does not refer to all cows, but a particular cow (maybe in front of you or something). This is to refer to something that’s has already been mentioned before, or that you’re already pointing at it. “The” here is synonymous to “that”.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



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                  answered Oct 15 '18 at 12:30









                  QuIcKmAtHsQuIcKmAtHs

                  306111




                  306111

























                      0














                      The construction you ask about is called a Generic noun phrase; this kind is a Definite Generic.



                      You should know, however, that there is no single rule for use of articles. Instead, there are hundreds of individual rules for special cases, particular noun phrases, idioms, and syntactic constructions like this one. And each case has to be recognized and memorized separately, because they don't correlate with one another.



                      The and a/an are just markers, like flags of one color or another, that indicate specific usages and don't have any meaning themselves. Asking how to use the is like asking how to use the color red; there aren't any general rules, only specific ones, and everything depends on the context.






                      share|improve this answer




























                        0














                        The construction you ask about is called a Generic noun phrase; this kind is a Definite Generic.



                        You should know, however, that there is no single rule for use of articles. Instead, there are hundreds of individual rules for special cases, particular noun phrases, idioms, and syntactic constructions like this one. And each case has to be recognized and memorized separately, because they don't correlate with one another.



                        The and a/an are just markers, like flags of one color or another, that indicate specific usages and don't have any meaning themselves. Asking how to use the is like asking how to use the color red; there aren't any general rules, only specific ones, and everything depends on the context.






                        share|improve this answer


























                          0












                          0








                          0







                          The construction you ask about is called a Generic noun phrase; this kind is a Definite Generic.



                          You should know, however, that there is no single rule for use of articles. Instead, there are hundreds of individual rules for special cases, particular noun phrases, idioms, and syntactic constructions like this one. And each case has to be recognized and memorized separately, because they don't correlate with one another.



                          The and a/an are just markers, like flags of one color or another, that indicate specific usages and don't have any meaning themselves. Asking how to use the is like asking how to use the color red; there aren't any general rules, only specific ones, and everything depends on the context.






                          share|improve this answer













                          The construction you ask about is called a Generic noun phrase; this kind is a Definite Generic.



                          You should know, however, that there is no single rule for use of articles. Instead, there are hundreds of individual rules for special cases, particular noun phrases, idioms, and syntactic constructions like this one. And each case has to be recognized and memorized separately, because they don't correlate with one another.



                          The and a/an are just markers, like flags of one color or another, that indicate specific usages and don't have any meaning themselves. Asking how to use the is like asking how to use the color red; there aren't any general rules, only specific ones, and everything depends on the context.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Oct 15 '18 at 13:14









                          John LawlerJohn Lawler

                          85.1k6118336




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