an engineer and an entrepreneur

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artart
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an engineer and an entrepreneur

Postby artart » 2022-06-29, 8:53

1) I was talking to an engineer and entrepreneur.
Can we be sure that I was talking to one person?

2) I was talking to an engineer and an entrepreneur.
Can we be sure that I was talking to two people?

3) An engineer and entrepreneur walked into the room.
Can we be sure one person walked into the room?

4) An engineer and an entrepreneur walked into the room.

Can we be sure two people walked into the room?

5) He is the son of an engineer and entrepreneur.

Can we be sure one parent is both an engineer and an entrepreneur?
Is the sentence natural?

6) He is the son of an engineer and an entrepreneur.

Can we be sure one parent is an engineer and the other one an entrepreneur?

Gratefully,
Navi

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Dormouse559
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Re: an engineer and an entrepreneur

Postby Dormouse559 » 2022-06-29, 20:22

The sentences that repeat the article unambiguously refer to two people. The ones that don't repeat the article can mean one person, but, as written, it's not unambiguous. It would help if there were a verb form that marked number: "I was talking to an engineer and entrepreneur who often works with the city." That version can only mean a single person.

I think the indefinite is also making the distinction tougher. If it's already established that we're talking about one person, things become easier. "Everyone stopped talking when Jane Doe arrived. The engineer and entrepreneur walked into the room and took her seat."
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