1. He studies animals in South America.
2. He studies the animals in South America.
..............
Q1: What is the difference in meaning between them?
Q2: Is 'in South America' an adverb phrase or an adjecive phrase? Or are both okay in meaning?
Does the sentence above mean the following? <one of them?>
a. He is now in South America and studies animals there.
b. He is not in South America, but he studies animals there.
c. He maybe in South America, or he may not be in South America. Anyway he studies animals there.
Q1: What is the difference in meaning between them?
The difference in meaning between the two sentences is subtle but can be understood by analyzing the placement and role of the word "studies" in relation to the phrase "in South America".
In the first sentence, "He studies animals in South America," the word "studies" is the main verb of the sentence. It indicates that the person is actively engaged in the act of studying animals, and the phrase "in South America" specifies where this studying is taking place. This sentence implies that the person's primary focus is on studying animals in South America, suggesting that it is likely the main purpose of their studies.
In the second sentence, "He studies the animals in South America," the word "studies" is followed by the definite article "the" before the noun "animals". This indicates that the person is studying specific animals in South America, possibly referring to a particular group of animals or a specific set of research subjects. This sentence implies a more targeted or specific study of animals rather than a general focus on studying all animals in South America.
Q2: Is 'in South America' an adverb phrase or an adjective phrase? Or are both okay in meaning?
The phrase "in South America" is an adverb phrase in both sentences. Adverb phrases modify verbs and provide additional information about where, when, why, or how an action occurs.
In this case, "in South America" answers the question "where" and indicates the location where the studying of animals is taking place. It modifies the verb "studies" and describes the place of study.
It is worth noting that adjectives are used to modify nouns, whereas adverb phrases modify verbs. Since "in South America" describes the action of studying rather than directly modifying the noun "animals," it is considered an adverb phrase in this context.
Regarding the interpretation of the sentence you provided, it does not clearly convey any of the options (a), (b), or (c) you mentioned. The sentences simply state that "he" is studying animals in South America without providing information about his current location or whether he may or may not be in South America at the time of studying.