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“I am [the / an] owner of a bookstore”?

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3

I'm drafting a letter of invitation for someone. And one sentence goes: "I am [the / an] owner of a bookstore" - which article shall I use?

Regards,
Danny

articles definite-article indefinite-article

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asked 12 hours ago

DannyDanny

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Danny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  While either is correct, they have a different feel to me somehow. I don't have a clear grammatical reason for this, but my intuition with hearing the owner is that the conversation will be about the you, however hearing an owner I would expect the following conversation to be about the store. Perhaps it has something to do with specificity... maybe someone else can elaborate / debunk.
  
  – brichins
  10 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

I'm drafting a letter of invitation for someone. And one sentence goes: "I am [the / an] owner of a bookstore" - which article shall I use?

Regards,
Danny

articles definite-article indefinite-article

share|improve this question

asked 12 hours ago

DannyDanny

1622 bronze badges

New contributor

Danny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  While either is correct, they have a different feel to me somehow. I don't have a clear grammatical reason for this, but my intuition with hearing the owner is that the conversation will be about the you, however hearing an owner I would expect the following conversation to be about the store. Perhaps it has something to do with specificity... maybe someone else can elaborate / debunk.
  
  – brichins
  10 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I'm drafting a letter of invitation for someone. And one sentence goes: "I am [the / an] owner of a bookstore" - which article shall I use?

Regards,
Danny

articles definite-article indefinite-article

share|improve this question

asked 12 hours ago

DannyDanny

1622 bronze badges

New contributor

Danny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 12 hours ago

DannyDanny

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New contributor

Danny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 12 hours ago

DannyDanny

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Danny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 12 hours ago

DannyDanny

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Danny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 12 hours ago

DannyDanny

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2 Answers
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4

If the bookstore you own has only one owner (you), then, "I am the owner of a bookstore." is correct.

If there are other owners of that bookstore (i.e. you are a co-owner), then you should say, "I am an owner of a bookstore."

The indefinite article, "a" is for one among other(s), and the definite article "the" is for naming one when there are no others.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Lorel C.Lorel C.

7,34111 gold badge77 silver badges1515 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Although an can also be used if you're the only owner too. "I am an owner of a bookstore, among other owners of bookstores"
  
  – Smock
  12 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Smock Good point, but I think "I am a bookstore owner" would be more natural in that case.
  
  – Acccumulation
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Acccumulation and indeed you could have "I am the bookstore owner" too (although as Lorel C states, only if you're the sole owner)
  
  – Smock
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

If you introduce yourself by mentioning your occupation (what I am):

I am an engineer.

A step towards your example:

I am a bookstore owner.

The article 'a' above defines the noun 'owner'. Next step (considering it's still about your occupation, not a particular store):

I am an owner of a bookstore.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Alex_anderAlex_ander

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4

If the bookstore you own has only one owner (you), then, "I am the owner of a bookstore." is correct.

If there are other owners of that bookstore (i.e. you are a co-owner), then you should say, "I am an owner of a bookstore."

The indefinite article, "a" is for one among other(s), and the definite article "the" is for naming one when there are no others.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Lorel C.Lorel C.

7,34111 gold badge77 silver badges1515 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Although an can also be used if you're the only owner too. "I am an owner of a bookstore, among other owners of bookstores"
  
  – Smock
  12 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Smock Good point, but I think "I am a bookstore owner" would be more natural in that case.
  
  – Acccumulation
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Acccumulation and indeed you could have "I am the bookstore owner" too (although as Lorel C states, only if you're the sole owner)
  
  – Smock
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

If the bookstore you own has only one owner (you), then, "I am the owner of a bookstore." is correct.

If there are other owners of that bookstore (i.e. you are a co-owner), then you should say, "I am an owner of a bookstore."

The indefinite article, "a" is for one among other(s), and the definite article "the" is for naming one when there are no others.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Lorel C.Lorel C.

7,34111 gold badge77 silver badges1515 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Although an can also be used if you're the only owner too. "I am an owner of a bookstore, among other owners of bookstores"
  
  – Smock
  12 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Smock Good point, but I think "I am a bookstore owner" would be more natural in that case.
  
  – Acccumulation
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Acccumulation and indeed you could have "I am the bookstore owner" too (although as Lorel C states, only if you're the sole owner)
  
  – Smock
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

If the bookstore you own has only one owner (you), then, "I am the owner of a bookstore." is correct.

If there are other owners of that bookstore (i.e. you are a co-owner), then you should say, "I am an owner of a bookstore."

The indefinite article, "a" is for one among other(s), and the definite article "the" is for naming one when there are no others.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Lorel C.Lorel C.

7,34111 gold badge77 silver badges1515 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Lorel C.Lorel C.

7,34111 gold badge77 silver badges1515 bronze badges

answered 12 hours ago

Lorel C.Lorel C.

7,34111 gold badge77 silver badges1515 bronze badges

answered 12 hours ago

Lorel C.Lorel C.

7,34111 gold badge77 silver badges1515 bronze badges

3

If you introduce yourself by mentioning your occupation (what I am):

I am an engineer.

A step towards your example:

I am a bookstore owner.

The article 'a' above defines the noun 'owner'. Next step (considering it's still about your occupation, not a particular store):

I am an owner of a bookstore.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Alex_anderAlex_ander

1,98422 silver badges66 bronze badges

add a comment | 

3

If you introduce yourself by mentioning your occupation (what I am):

I am an engineer.

A step towards your example:

I am a bookstore owner.

The article 'a' above defines the noun 'owner'. Next step (considering it's still about your occupation, not a particular store):

I am an owner of a bookstore.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Alex_anderAlex_ander

1,98422 silver badges66 bronze badges

add a comment | 

If you introduce yourself by mentioning your occupation (what I am):

I am an engineer.

A step towards your example:

I am a bookstore owner.

The article 'a' above defines the noun 'owner'. Next step (considering it's still about your occupation, not a particular store):

I am an owner of a bookstore.

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Alex_anderAlex_ander

1,98422 silver badges66 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered 12 hours ago

Alex_anderAlex_ander

1,98422 silver badges66 bronze badges

answered 12 hours ago

Alex_anderAlex_ander

1,98422 silver badges66 bronze badges

answered 12 hours ago

Alex_anderAlex_ander

1,98422 silver badges66 bronze badges