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a

English translation: b

07:33 Apr 4, 2012
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: a
A Company shareholder intending to sell his/her/its shares to a third person shall notify of this in writing other shareholders of the Company and the Company itself, indicating prices and other terms and conditions of the shares sale.

"A" (going first in the sentence, before "Company shareholder") here refers to
a) Company
b) shareholder
c) both a) and b) are possible.
?
Thank you!
Michael Kislov
Russian Federation
Local time: 05:29
Selected answer:b
Explanation:
Assuming the context is talking about some specific Company, then b) is the only possible meaning.

Were it to be talking about companies in general, then a) might have been possible too; except that a more usual and unambiguous wording would have been "Shareholders in a company" or "A Company's shareholders" and use of the plural for 'shareholders'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 55 mins (2012-04-04 08:28:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Vaddy has given us a good rule-of-thumb, but do note that certain En constructions contradict this (as with so many grammar 'rules!)

I'll use the example of the words here, though this would not really be applicable:

'a company shareholder' could be interpreted as a company {that is a} shareholder [in something else]'
(normally, there ought to be a comma between company and shareholder, but often omitted)

As I say, in this particular instance, that's irrelevant — but in other contexts, with other nouns, it is possible and used, albeit uncommon.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 04:29
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +5b
Tony M
3 +3A
Bashiqa


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
A


Explanation:
A shareholder in the company

Bashiqa
France
Local time: 04:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: Your explanation expresses the meaning correctly, but this corresponds to Michael's option (b), a shareholder, not (a) a company
4 mins
agree  Jenni Lukac (X)
4 mins
agree  Jack Doughty: with Charles
9 mins
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31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
b


Explanation:
Assuming the context is talking about some specific Company, then b) is the only possible meaning.

Were it to be talking about companies in general, then a) might have been possible too; except that a more usual and unambiguous wording would have been "Shareholders in a company" or "A Company's shareholders" and use of the plural for 'shareholders'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 55 mins (2012-04-04 08:28:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Vaddy has given us a good rule-of-thumb, but do note that certain En constructions contradict this (as with so many grammar 'rules!)

I'll use the example of the words here, though this would not really be applicable:

'a company shareholder' could be interpreted as a company {that is a} shareholder [in something else]'
(normally, there ought to be a comma between company and shareholder, but often omitted)

As I say, in this particular instance, that's irrelevant — but in other contexts, with other nouns, it is possible and used, albeit uncommon.

Tony M
France
Local time: 04:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 309

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vaddy Peters: "Company" serves as an adjective, shareholder - a noun. An article goes with a noun placed before an adjective. That's how we are normally supposed to take such an expression. A Company's - here Company is a noun in the Posses. Case and has its own artic
14 mins
  -> Spasibo, Vaddy! Yes, a good explanation!
agree  rokotas: It is sure that it refers to a shareholder of a company, since later it says: "his/her/its shares"
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Rokotas! Yes, indeed, if any further proof were needed, there it is.
agree  Thayenga: IT refers to a (one person) shareholder. Have a nice day, Tony. :)
3 hrs
  -> Thnaks, Thayenga! You too! :-)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tina!
agree  Phong Le
1 day 8 hrs
  -> Thanks, Phong Le!
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