"the" is a perfectly reasonable word to use for "the only one in the circumstance described." There was only one beer tap in the car; there is only one WNPCF shampoo in the bathroom; there is only one American flag in the house. I do not suggest that there is only one flag in existence, any more than I suggest that there is only one car in existence. :)
I don't disagree, but you do know that the phrase "the American flag" is also used to refer to a unique abstract entity in a manner that "the beer tap" or "the shampoo" does not.
Well, I suppose if your answer would be different if I was asking about who is more likely to own the abstract concept of the flag, you can pick one for each. :)
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But yeah, it's not at all obvious who would a priori be the most likely to own an American flag (let alone the American flag).
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