 Re: Generic reference the
No. Generic reference can be expressed by "the", but only to refer to a species or group- eg : One animal in danger of extinction is the tiger.
Here you are not talking about owning a whole species, but just one animal. So "a + singular" is the correct form.
Theoretically the plural could also be used The advantages and disadvantages of owning dogs. But this would make the title ambiguous - it could also be interpreted as meaning The advantages and disadvantages of owning more than one dog. So "a+singular" is more likely. |