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a. What are the differences in the usage of \"one\" when it is used to indicate quantity?

2009-03-26View Original

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a. What are the differences in the usage of \"one\" when it is used to indicate quantity? Example sentence: Over a year passed before the first attempt was made. Can the ‘a’ in that sentence be replaced by ‘one’? a. Can \"one\" and \"two\" be used interchangeably when referring to quantities?
Reply #22009-03-26
It can be replaced; it depends on the context and the speaker’s preference. Generally speaking, it doesn’t matter. . . . “One” carries an emphatic meaning, while “a” is a simple expression used to prevent the noun that follows from appearing on its own
Reply #32009-03-26
When a represents the amount transferred, it can be referred to as “one” and thus can be called one; but when a is used as an indefinite article without emphasizing the quantity, that’s not possible, right?
Reply #42009-03-27
In terms of certain idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases, they cannot be considered equivalent; for example: one. . . , another. . . (Fixed expression) ; To denote the same species in terms of quantity, use ‘a’ instead of ‘one’ ; “An “uncertain” quantity is denoted by a.
Reply #52009-03-27
The differences don’t need to be taken too seriously; what matters is the application.
Reply #62009-03-31
Sometimes, ‘a’ and ‘one’ cannot be interchanged. For example, in the sentence “China has a population of XXX,” I think ‘a’ cannot be replaced by ‘one’; it seems that the author is not referring to a specific quantity, which is why the replacement isn’t possible, in my opinion.

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