Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences

Employing descriptive approach and qualitative analysis, this paper focuses on comparing Vietnamese generic sentences with English ones in order to look for similarities differences the ways each of languages chooses express meaning their sentences. The comparison indicates that there is no exact equivalence between three types Specifically, both have beginning a [+definite] article; but has single article which can be considered as an equivalent the — sole goes variety nouns: respectively preceding [+singular count] noun, group] [+plural the zero article, các — [+definite], những [+indefinite], quantifier Vietnamese. Both zero while always [+indefinite]. also prominent because it witnesses fact universalism uniqueness operate quite well two natural question. universal is shown by sentences’ identical internal structure, topic/subject noun phrase certain kind plus frequent [+stative] verb comment/predicate phrase. unique asserts beautiful its own way deserves patience understanding any language user, native non-native. Except existence Vietnamese classifier, first type including only those [+singular] một or a(n) English, exemplifies languages; lie other types. Interchangeability among determined characteristics subject/topic predicate/comment