English Grammar

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 use a/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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