the lemon vs. lemon

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Which one is correct:

… has a unique taste.

A) lemon
B) the lemon

2

I’m 99.99 % sure that (a) does not work for we cannot use countable noun alone.
On the other hand, we use the + singular noun in this way to talk about a type of fruit. Therefore, (b) is correct. If I’m not mistaken, “A lemon has…” also works.

 Thanks.
3

@ Foreigner:

Based on your rule, which one is correct:

I always hated …

A) school
B) the school

You tend to say that 99% B) is correct, because we can count schools?

4

‘A’ and ‘the’ before lemon are fine. ‘Lemon’ on its own refers more to the abstract qualities of the fruit such as flavour. taste, smell and so on rather than the fruit itself.

5

@ Alan: This did not answer my question:

Are both forms correct, from the initial question?
If not, which one is correct then?

6

I suggest you read my answer!

7

To my mind, ‘Lemons have a unique taste’ will also be acceptable.

8

This is my view:

A) ‘I always hated school’ means you dislike pursuing a course of study.

B) ‘I always hated the school’ means you dislike going to a particular school for studies (for reasons known to you).

I don’t think the number (singular/plural) has anything to do in the above two situations.

9

It’s another kettle of fish. In this case, I think, both of the versions are correct, but they do not have the same meaning. In (a) we refer to the purpose for which it exists (like university, college, prison, hospital and so on)
In (b) a speaker means that particular school (or/and the building, atmosphere) that he/she knew.

As for "lemon" in the first thread, [i]the ...[/i] does not mean one particular thing. [i]The lemon[/i] = one particular type of fruit, not one particular lemon. It's investigated under the topic of "[i]classifying[/i]":

There are three ways of talking about the characteristics of a group or class of things:

b Plural noun without an article[/b]

As T_H_Lawrence, aka Anglophile (:-)) also mentioned this is the most common way of referring generally to a whole group.

[i]Seagulls[/i] are found close to the coast. (= seagulls generally).

[b]  (2) Singular noun with a/an[/b]

We use a singular noun with [i]a/an[/i] to give a definition, for example answering the question [i]What is ... ?[/i] 

What's [i]a seagull[/i]? [i]A seagull[/i] is a large white and grey bird. (= all seagulls are...)

  [b](3) Singular noun with the[/b]

 We use [i]the [/i]in academic or formal language, mainly to describe typical characteristics. We always use a singular verb.

 [i]The seagull [/i]is a scavenging bird.
 I've been studying [i]the seagull[/i] (possible, but formal)

Thanks.
10

Thanks, Foreigner. What you say is okay to me. It’s all about what may be called the ‘generic reference’. When you say Lions are wild animals, The lion is a wild animal and A lion is a wild animal, they all mean that all lions are wild animals.