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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Infinitives and Participles

Delegates of the political party decided on a policy allowing party members to declare candidacy on their own in the coming election.



Delegates of the political party decided on a policy to allow party members to declare candidacy on their own in the coming election.



What is the difference in meaning, even subtly, between the two sentences above?

And why there is no definite article preceding “delegates” ?
  

Top answer

There is no difference in intent. There is no definite article because the comment is referring to any delegates of the party whatsoever; 'of the political party' adequately defines them without the article.

— Mister Micawber

  • There is no difference in intent.
  • There is no definite article because the comment is referring to any delegates of the party whatsoever; 'of the political party' adequately defines them without the article.
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2 Answers
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There is no difference in intent. There is no definite article because the comment is referring to any delegates of the party whatsoever; 'of the political party' adequately defines them without the article.
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1) but I thought that "allowing" modifies "a policy", thus emphasizes more on the policy; whereas "to allow" modifies the verb "decided", and thus emphasizes more on the action "decided"??

2) but shouldn't it be "the delegates of the poltical party" since the definition of those delegates are confined to "the political party" not other political party??
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