Musicgold  +  499499 Fri, 11 Apr 08 08:46 PM Hi,   Do the following sentences convey the same meaning? Also do I need to use articles before nouns preceded  by past-participle  adjectives ( for example, ‘increased G&A expenses’)?     1. Increased staffing levels to add development capacity was one of the reasons behind the increased G&A expenses.   2. An increase in staffing levels to add development capacity was a reason  for the increase in G&A expenses.   Thanks,   MG. Musicgold Joined on Sat, Jul 14 2007 Full Member 279 Articles, Nouns

	Clive  +  499523 Fri, 11 Apr 08 09:29 PM Hi, Do the following sentences convey the same meaning? Generally speaking, although version 2 clearly speaks of one increase and version 1 does not.  Also do I need to use articles before nouns preceded  by past-participle  adjectives ( for example, ‘increased G&A expenses’)?   The presence of an adjective makes no difference. You can speak of a painted chair / the painted chair / painted chairs or of a chair / the chair / chairs. It just depends on what kind of reference you want to make, eg general , definite, indefinite. In the same way, you can speak of an increased staff level / the increased staff level / increased staff levels.  1. Increased staffing levels to add development capacity was one of the reasons behind the increased G&A expenses.  2. An increase in staffing levels to add development capacity was a reason  for the increase in G&A expenses. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,650 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Goodman  +  499551 Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:20 PM   1.      Increased staffing levels to add development capacity was one of the reasons behind the increased G&A expenses. – I find the construction a bit ackward. IMO: Adding developmental capacity by increasing the number of staff was one of the reasons behind the increased G&A .- This means there are other reasons. OR,   increasing staff level to add developmental capacity was the reason for the increase in G&A expenses.   This means  “the only reason.   Goodman Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005 Senior Member 3,816 The name says it all! Articles, Constructions

	Musicgold  +  499589 Sat, 12 Apr 08 01:59 AM Clive and Goodman,  Thanks.  This means there are other reasons. I do wish to convey in the sentence that there are many reasons for the increase; an increase in staffing level is one of them.   Musicgold Articles