Monday 2 May 2016

What to use - a/an or the?

The indefinite article a/an is used to talk about one particular person or thing when the listener does not know which one is meant.
  • I saw a child in the toy store.
  • She married an old man.
  • A girl answered the phone.
The definite article is used when the listener knows which particular person or thing is meant.
  • The child was crying. (You know which child - the one I met in the toy store.)
  • I went to the doctor yesterday.
  • The girl who answered the phone was polite. (You know which girl - the one who answered the phone.)
The first time you speak of something/somebody usea/an, the next time you repeat the same noun use the.
To talk about things in general, we normally use a singular countable noun with a/an.
  • A spider has eight legs.
  • An apple is red.
Note that we can also use a plural noun with no article to make a general statement.
  • Children need love. 
  • Spiders have eight legs. 
  • Teachers must have patience. 
  • Apples are red. 
  • Computers are expensive. 
Sometimes we use a singular noun with the to make general statements. This is particularly common before the names of instruments and inventions.

  • Who invented the computer? 
  • I would like to learn the violin. 

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