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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Between party and family

"When a politician has to choose between party and family, they should choose the party."

It's a reference to a political movement. Why no articles before 'party'? I would be inclined to write either 'the party' or 'a party'. Is that wrong?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

"Party" is a general concept. Another example: Sometimes you have to choose between life and death. This is also OK: When a politician has to choose between their party and their family...

— AlpheccaStars

  • "Party" is a general concept.
  • Another example: Sometimes you have to choose between life and death.
  • This is also OK: When a politician has to choose between their party and their family...
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6 Answers
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"Party" is a general concept.

Another example:
Sometimes you have to choose between life and death.

This is also OK:
When a politician has to choose between their party and their family...
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AlpheccaStars"Party" is a general concept.Another example:Sometimes you have to choose between life and death.This is also OK:When a politician has to choose between their party and their family...
Thanks, AlpheccaStars. I could also say "a party", no? If I mean "any party"?
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Anonymous"When a politician has to choose between party and family, they should choose the party."
There is a tendency in English to leave out articles with opposites. Even though party and family aren't real opposites, they can be understood to represent two possible extremes that a politician may be faced with.

Examples of opposites wi
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Cool Breeze Anonymous"When a politician has to choose between party and family, they should choose the party."There is a tendency in English to leave out articles with opposites. Even though party and family aren't real opposites, they can be understood to represent two possible extremes that a politician may be faced with.Examples of opposites without articles:They trave
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Anonymousit's not really wrong to use articles in all these examples, is it?
It's unidiomatic.

CB
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Cool, thanks, Cool Breeze. I breezed through this thanks to you.
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