0
Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Establish a / establish the
Is there a difference between:
"By this Treaty, the HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES establish among themselves a EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter called ‘the Union’." (Treaty of Maastricht)
and
"this Constitution establishes the European Union" (Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe)
I think that "establish a" means to create something new, and "establish the" is more like to prove something that already exists, to make it secure.
Am I correct, especially in this particular case?
"By this Treaty, the HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES establish among themselves a EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter called ‘the Union’." (Treaty of Maastricht)
and
"this Constitution establishes the European Union" (Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe)
I think that "establish a" means to create something new, and "establish the" is more like to prove something that already exists, to make it secure.
Am I correct, especially in this particular case?
Top answer
I don't see it that way. "
- I don't see it that way.
- "
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2 Answers
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I don't see it that way.
It's the same use of "a" to mean there could be more than one, and "the" to mean "the only one."
It's the same use of "a" to mean there could be more than one, and "the" to mean "the only one."
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I think it's the same usage as:
I saw a woman in a taxi.
The woman in the taxi waved at me.
The first use makes us aware of the existence of a woman and a taxi (or a Union, in the case of your example).
The second use refers back to the first use, so that we know that the same woman and taxi (or Union) are being referred to again.
The idea of new
I saw a woman in a taxi.
The woman in the taxi waved at me.
The first use makes us aware of the existence of a woman and a taxi (or a Union, in the case of your example).
The second use refers back to the first use, so that we know that the same woman and taxi (or Union) are being referred to again.
The idea of new
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