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Akavall Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
A question about "an".
I just saw this sentence on yahoo:
"Serbia will never recognize an independent Kosovo but will not use violence to prevent the country's ethnic Albanians from establishing their own state, Serbia's president said on Wednesday."
"an" seems to be wrong here, since you wouldn't use an article if "independent" wasn't there
" Serbia will never recognize Kosovo...."
Therefore, the correct sentence should be:
"Serbia will never recognize independent Kosovo but will not use violence to prevent the country's ethnic Albanians from establishing their own state, Serbia's president said on Wednesday."
I am I right?
"Serbia will never recognize an independent Kosovo but will not use violence to prevent the country's ethnic Albanians from establishing their own state, Serbia's president said on Wednesday."
"an" seems to be wrong here, since you wouldn't use an article if "independent" wasn't there
" Serbia will never recognize Kosovo...."
Therefore, the correct sentence should be:
"Serbia will never recognize independent Kosovo but will not use violence to prevent the country's ethnic Albanians from establishing their own state, Serbia's president said on Wednesday."
I am I right?
Top answer
You're right in that without "independent" the "an" would not be there, but the writer is desribing a specific manifestation of Kosovo - a Kosovo that is independent. " it sounds like Kosovo's independence is a fact, while the original makes it potentially a hypothetical situation.
- You're right in that without "independent" the "an" would not be there, but the writer is desribing a specific manifestation of Kosovo - a Kosovo that is independent.
- " it sounds like Kosovo's independence is a fact, while the original makes it potentially a hypothetical situation.
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2 Answers
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You're right in that without "independent" the "an" would not be there, but the writer is desribing a specific manifestation of Kosovo - a Kosovo that is independent.
If you used your version "...recognize independent Kosovo..." it sounds like Kosovo's independence is a fact, while the original makes it potentially a hypothetical situation.
If you used your version "...recognize independent Kosovo..." it sounds like Kosovo's independence is a fact, while the original makes it potentially a hypothetical situation.
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