Hi please help

used before the first but not the second of two nouns that are referred to as one unit:

a cup and saucer

What's " a" in this sentence?

Is it equivalent of " cup and saucer"?

Question

Hi please help

used before the first but not the second of two nouns that are referred to as one unit:

a cup and saucer

What's " a" in this sentence?

Is it equivalent of " cup and saucer"?

Answer

In this sentence, "a" is a single article that applies to the phrase "cup and saucer" as one unit or set. It does not refer separately to the cup or the saucer but treats them together as a single entity (e.g., a matching pair or combination).

So, "a cup and saucer" means "one set consisting of both a cup and a saucer."

Answer

Thanks sir