take on/assume/act as counseling roles for each other

Talking things over with someone, listening to their problems, helping to find solutions and supporting them through the bad times is what counseling is all about. Families and frinds often take on the counseling roles for each other.

To begin with, could I use "family" to replace "families" in the above? If not, why not?

Second, is it equal to say "assume/act as/serve as counseling roles for each other" instead of "take on ...?" Thanks.

Feebs11 wrote:

Angliholic wrote: Talking things over with someone, listening to their problems, helping to find solutions and supporting them through the bad times is what counseling is all about. Families and frinds often take on the counseling roles for each other. To begin with, could I use "family" to replace "families" in the above? If not, why not? Second, is it equal to say "assume/act as/serve as counseling roles for each other" instead of "take on ...?" Thanks. You can replace "familes" with "family" - it makes no  difference to the meaning in essence. You could use "assume" to equate "take on"; I would not use either of the other alternatives.

Thanks, Feebs.

To make sure, does "families" refer to "families as a whole," while "family" "members of the family?"

Feebs11 wrote:

"Families" in this passage = people's families "Family" = the generic term for the family group

Thanks, Feebs.

Got it!.