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#2 (permalink) Tue Mar 12, 2013 19:51 pm Use of "the" in "the import of some goods" and "the trad |
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I think the mere fact that it says "... of some goods" is enough specificity to justify the definite article. (Actually, I think in that sentence I would use "importation" rather than "import".)
I understand "the trade deficit" to refer to the country's overall deficit in all goods. Because there is only one, and we know which one it is, we use "the". |
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Dozy I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 17 Jun 2011 Posts: 7027 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Tue Mar 12, 2013 22:18 pm Use of "the" in "the import of some goods" and "the trad |
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Thanks, Dozy!
Quote: | I think the mere fact that it says "... of some goods" is enough specificity to justify the definite article. (Actually, I think in that sentence I would use "importation" rather than "import".) |
I want to ask you more about this. If "some goods" isn't mentioned anywhere in the report and only the writer know what are these goods, then is it correct to use the definite article? _________________ Practice makes perfect. |
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Screen I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 02 Mar 2013 Posts: 736 Location: Vietnam
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#4 (permalink) Tue Mar 12, 2013 23:16 pm Use of "the" in "the import of some goods" and "the trad |
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Yes.
It is also not impossible to drop the article and use "import(ation)" as an uncountable noun, though in that case "importation" sounds better to me than "import".
"an import(ation) of some goods" sounds like a single instance of importation, which is not what is meant. |
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Dozy I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 17 Jun 2011 Posts: 7027 Location: UK
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Error. | moderating vs moderate |