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A car usually is equipped with four wheels. And below "wheel" doesn't mean a steering wheel.

(1) a wheel of a car

Does (1) implies there is more than one wheel?

(2) the wheel of a car

Does (2) implies there is only one wheel?

(3) a backseat of a car.

Does (3) implies there is more than one backseat?

(4) the backseat of a car.

Does (4) implies there is only one backseat?

Interestingly, I found stock photos often uses "a X of a Y" like the case below

Businessman sitting on a backseat of the car using smart phone.

Source: https://www.westend61.de/en/imageView/CJMF00085/businessman-sitting-on-a-backseat-of-the-car-using-smartphone?window=1

Businessman sitting on a backseat of a car using smartphone and looking around.

Source: https://www.westend61.de/en/imageView/CJMF00083/businessman-sitting-on-a-backseat-of-a-car-using-smartphone-and-looking-around?window=1

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  • a means generally, the means specific. That is all you need.
    – Lambie
    Commented Jun 26, 2022 at 17:19
  • [please correct: Does X imply etc.]
    – Lambie
    Commented Nov 28, 2022 at 16:16
  • "backseat of a car" can either refer to the entire bench seat from door to door, or each part of that seat that is big enough for someone's bum (and probably has its own seatbelt). So it's inherently ambiguous.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Nov 28, 2022 at 17:53

2 Answers 2

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Your “an x of a y” example does indeed imply that there is more than one “x”, but not necessarily only one “y”, for that we’d say, for example:

A wheel of the car.

“The x of a y” does indeed imply that a y only has one x.

The last example you mentioned is not good English, and is actually from a German website (“.de”).

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  • So, can I say "the X of a Y" implies there is only one "X"? Do the same rules of "the X of a Y" and "an X of a Y" apply to both animate and inanimate objects?
    – VinceL
    Commented Mar 2, 2021 at 4:03
  • Sorry, yes, I’ve added that to my answer. Yes, I believe this would apply to both animate and inanimate objects, but if you have a particular example that is concerning you I’d be happy to consider it.
    – Chris Mack
    Commented Mar 2, 2021 at 4:44
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Businessman sitting on a backseat of a car using smartphone and looking around.

The above sentence is not correct.

Correct one :- A businessman is sitting in the backseat of a car using a smartphone and looking around.

You can check on any online free grammar checker

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