subject and complement agreement

[mionguyen]

Dear all,

I have a question relating to subject and complement agreement as in the examples below:

1/ Tigers are dangerous animals.
2/ Tigers are a dangerous animal.

As I study grammar, I know that a countable noun which is in plural like 'tigers' in 1 and 2 can refer to 'tiger' in general. The problem is the sentence number 2. I am not sure if it is logical to a native speaker when the complement is 'a dangerous animal'. In this case, can 'many tigers' still be understood as one type of animal?
Should I choose number 1 or 2, or both are acceptable?

Many thanks for your kind help.

mionguyen

 

[Englishmypassion]

No, 2 is not natural. Go for 1.

 

[The Newt]

You should say either "tigers are dangerous animals" or "the tiger is a dangerous animal."

 

[Forero]

"Tigers are a dangerous species", in which "species" is singular, is fine, but "Tigers are a dangerous animal" sounds less natural. The Newt's suggestions sound fine.

 

[dojibear]

Using "tiger" meaning the whole species makes it singular: there is only one species called "tiger".