Subj : "a" or "the"
To   : All
From : Anton Shepelev
Date : Thu Jun 07 2018 22:42:48

Hello, all

Recently I had to translate into English this notice:

   You are allowed to use this system if you are a citizen
   of the Russian Federation and the holder of an
   e-passport.

I then realised I cannot rationalise my choice of articles:
why "a citizen" but "the holder"?  Perhaps because a country
has many citizens but a passport always a single holder?

But then, a note in the British passport says:

   This passport remains the property of Her Majesty's
   Government in the United Kingdom.

Why "the property"?  I am sure a passport does not
constitute the property of the Government.

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 * Origin: - nntp://news.fidonet.fi - Lake Ylo - Finland - (2:221/6)

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