Restrictive clases [clauses]

[Rachel Adams]

Re: Restrictive clases

Dang, I knew someone would say that.

You're right. I should have said they pretty much amount to the same thing. They both mean: There was a man. He was arrested. He was carrying a gun. Because there's an A instead of a The, there's no issue of how many men we're discussing. With The, we might wonder which man. With A, we wouldn't.

But technically, you're absolutely right. Rachel, take Piscean's advice!

Could you please answer my question regarding the part in bold? There is no issue of how many men we are talking about with 'a' because an 'a' can only be used in the singular. Right?

 

[Raymott]

Re: Restrictive clases

Could you please answer my question regarding the part in bold? There is no issue of how many men we are talking about with 'a' because an 'a' can only be used in the singular. Right?

I haven't followed the full thread, but no. The use of 'man', 'he' and 'was' (all singular) means that there was only one man, whether the sentence starts with 'The' or 'A'.
If you're asking whether other men without guns could have been involved, you can't tell that from the meaning given.
"The man, who was arrested ..." means you've already defined who the man is, in some sense.
"The man who was arrested ..." means you are defining the man now.
"A man, who was arrested ..." This would be uncommon.
"A man who was arrested ..." means you are defining the man now.