What do universal affirmative statements assert?

Universal affirmative statements assert that every member of a particular category possesses a specific quality or characteristic. This means they make a positive claim about the entirety of the category without exception. For example, the statement "All swans are white" affirms that every individual within the group of swans has the characteristic of being white. This definitive approach leaves no room for exceptions, thus reinforcing the categorization as wholly positive.

The other options do not align with the definition of universal affirmative statements. Negative claims about members of a category would contradict the essence of a universal affirmative. Claims about only some members would represent a particular affirmative or a particular negative, not a universal one. Lastly, claims that cannot be proven true or false fall outside the scope of categorical assertions, as universal affirmatives must be provable either through evidence or logical reasoning.