"Dogs have tails and four legs."

[cheshire]

(1) Dogs have a tail and four legs.
(2) Dogs have tails and four legs.

​

Is (2) really a correct statement?

 

[Dimcl]

(1) Dogs have a tail and four legs.​

(2) Dogs have tails and four legs.​

Is (2) really a correct statement?

Yes, Cheshire, because the subject of your sentence (dogs) is plural. A dog (singular) has a tail and four legs. Each dog has a tail and four legs. Dogs have tails.

 

[panjandrum]

If you are saying "Dogs have ..." to introduce the characteristics of the archetypical dog then a tail and four legs may be OK, but it sounds strange.
To overcome that strangeness, it would be entirely normal to say (2). I can see how some may consider it literally incorrect*, but that doesn't make it wrong.
Does it?

* Edit ... because dogs (plural) have more than four legs.

 

[elroy]

I would say "A dog has a tail and four legs."

The combination "tails and four legs" strikes me as odd.

 

[Dimcl]

Hmmm...

Human beings have a nose, two legs, two arms and two ears;

Human beings have noses, two legs, two arms and two ears;

"Vampires traditionally have a cape and two fangs"...

"Vampires traditionally have capes and two fangs"...

Yikes, it's that specified number in there that's got me over-thinking this but I still think it's got to be the plural.

 

[cheshire]

If you are saying "Dogs have ..." to introduce the characteristics of the archetypical dog then a tail and four legs may be OK, but it sounds strange.
To overcome that strangeness, it would be entirely normal to say (2). I can see how some may consider it literally incorrect*, but that doesn't make it wrong.
Does it?

* Edit ... because dogs (plural) have more than four legs.

Which sentence may be considered wrong, (1) or (2)?

 

[elroy]

Right - what I have a problem with is the specified number with the more general noun.

1. Dogs have tails and legs.
2. A dog has a tail and four legs.

Both of these are ok.

3. Dogs have tails and four legs.

is strange - and I cannot imagine a situation in which it cannot be replaced with #2 above.

Of course, we could always reword the sentence and say

4. Dogs are quadrupeds with tails.

 

[elroy]

Which sentence may be considered wrong, (1) or (2)?

(2).

See Panj's edit. Dogs (plural) have a total of more than four legs.

 

[cheshire]

Thanks, everyone!
And thanks elroy! You nailed it!
Can I ask one more very related question?

(4) My baby pulled the tails of each dog.
(5) My baby pulled the tail of each dog.

Which is correct?

 

[elroy]

(5) - although I might be more likely to say "each dog's tail."