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Onizo Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Articles

If the virtues involve the development of good character, contractual approach to ethics focuses more on the creation of good society.

Can you check if the sentence sounds ok? would you prefer some articles with some words?
  

Top answer

If the virtues involve / If virtue involves the development of good character, a contractual approach to ethics focuses more on the creation of a good society. "the virtues" assumes that the reader already knows, or can reasonably infer, which virtues are meant. If not, use the second option.

— GPY

  • If the virtues involve / If virtue involves the development of good character, a contractual approach to ethics focuses more on the creation of a good society.
  • "the virtues" assumes that the reader already knows, or can reasonably infer, which virtues are meant.
  • If not, use the second option.
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10 Answers
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If the virtues involve / If virtue involves the development of good character, a contractual approach to ethics focuses more on the creation of a good society.

"the virtues" assumes that the reader already knows, or can reasonably infer, which virtues are meant. If not, use the second option.
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onizoCan you check if the sentence sounds ok?
I don't understand it.
There are many grammatical issues, such as subject-verb agreement. "approach" needs an article since it is countable. "Society" also needs an article since it has a modifier.

Are the virtues Roman or Greek goddesses or the seven virtues espoused by the Catholic Church?
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Thank you.

Can you also further explain why "the creation of a good society" needs an article but not the building in "the art of building"?
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onizoCan you also further explain why "the creation of a good society" needs an article but not the building in "the art of building"?
It just depends on whether the countable or uncountable sense of a word seems to fit the phrase better. "the art of building" refers to building generally. "the art of a building" is possible in grammar, but would refer to one
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onizo"the art of building"
Articles are not used with gerunds.
onizo"the art of a building"
Articles are used with countable nouns.
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The definite article can be used with gerunds - The writing of the book took two years.
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Yes, I misspoke. I could even a case for the indefinite article.

The essay would benefit from a re-writing.
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GPY onizoCan you also further explain why "the creation of a good society" needs an article but not the building in It just depends on whether the countable or uncountable sense of a word seems to fit the phrase better. "the art of building" refers to building generally. "the art of a building" is possible in grammar, but would refer to one building.
Thank you
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onizoI have another question regarding GPY's answer. So, what you mean could open up a door for "the creation of good society"? I don't want to mean just "a" good society, but good society in a general sense.
Hmm, possibly my answer was a bit too simplistic for this case. I think AS touched on the fact that the insertion of the modifier (in this case "good") d
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GPYreferring to social circles
... or social strata, I may have meant.
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