On generic reference 關於類指

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/147367/a-few-notes-on-generic-reference

In English, generic reference takes three possible forms:

A. Cats are cute.

B. A cat is cute.

C. The cat is cute.

But the names of nationalities seem to me to make an exception to this rule. As far as I know, when referring to all the members of a nation, you can only use the C version: The Italians are musical, or The French are posh, or The British are cold.

Why is it that in this case only C is considered grammatically correct? If all the Italians, or all the French, or all the British are musical, posh, or cold, why can't we also say:

A. *Italians are... // *French are... // *British are...

or

B. *An Italian is... // *A French is... /// *A British is...

?

答:

I don’t agree with the premise. 

We can, with generic reference, say all of the following:

The Italians are musical, but the British excel in poetry.

Italians may be musical, but you can’t beat Germans for a good brass band.

The Italian is musical, where the Frenchman is artistic.

An Italian is musical, but a Spaniard is more passionate.

Your Italian is musical, but your Englishman prefers football.