Tony M Sep 24, 2019:

@ Asker Although patent language is always convoluted and awkward, here it is just the normal usage of definite vs. indefinite article:
in the first instance, 'the' is used because it refers to some specific thing — e.g. the one we have just been describing etc.
however, in the second instance, no def. article is required (there may or may not be an indefinite 'a') because it is talking in a general sense about soemthing that may not have been specifically referred to before.
Compare:
'the widget engages with a sprocket on the gizmo' (= some kind of non-specific sprocket)
and:
'the widget engages with the top sprocket on the gizmo' (= the one specific sprocket mentioned)

FR usage of the def. / indef. articles is broadly similar, at least in its general logic, though you do need to be wary of certain detail differences!

Nathmartin (asker) Sep 24, 2019:

My question is difference between "the one or more bodies are coordinating with a locating slot" and "one or more bodies are coordinating with a locating slot". I don't know why they write it in a way or another.

B D Finch Sep 24, 2019:

@Asker Even for patentese, I think it seems incredibly badly written to the point of being practically unintelligible. However, what you have posted now differs from the original extract that you posted:
"the one or more bodies are coordinating with a locating slot"
vs
"the one or more first main unit bodies are coordinated with a locating slot".

Nathmartin (asker) Sep 24, 2019:

The sentence is as: "The block wherein one or more first bodies are coordinated with one or more second bodies through one or more bodies, the one or more bodies are coordinating with a locating slot of the one or more second bodies." In the first part "one or more" could be translated as "un ou plusieurs". How should be translated in the second part of the sentence "the one or more" to mark the difference?

B D Finch Sep 23, 2019:

Definite article? It's not quite clear whether your question is about the use of the definite article. You haven't really given enough text to understand why it is used in the first sentence, but not later. However, I suggest you should retain it. You could check this by reading it with the bit in the middle omitted: "the first main unit bodies are coordinated with a locating slot"