What is the difference between We have become family (and would continue to be, even if the program ceased to exist.) and We have become a family (and would continue to be, even if the program ceased to exist.) ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

Answers

isthmus_x

6 Dec 2022

English (UK)
English (US)

@shirousan

The first one expresses the idea of family as a general idea which anybody can experience. All of the interactions which these people are having, they resemble the type of interactions that people have when they are part of a family – in a broad general sense.

The second one, however, directly says that these particular people have become one particular family.

Highly-rated answerer

shirousan

7 Dec 2022

Japanese

Dear isthmus_x, thank you very much for your kind explanation. I really appreciate it.

shirousan

7 Dec 2022

Japanese

Dear isthmus_x, may I ask you one more question? The same sentence is, in fact, longer:As one adult volunteer remarked, “We have become family and would continue to be, even if the program ceased to exist.” Is this "As" the same usage as "As you may know, I left the company last month."?