GRAMMAR REVIEW! Definite vs. Indefinite Articles in English
Definite Article ("The")
Use "the" when referring to something specific or known to both the speaker and listener.
Use "the" when:
• There is only one of something
The sun is shining.
• Both the speaker and listener know what is being referred to
I saw the doctor yesterday.
• Referring to something mentioned previously
I saw a dog. The dog was very friendly.
• Before superlatives and ordinal numbers
She is the best player on the team.
• Before unique things (oceans, rivers, mountain ranges, countries with plural names, etc.)
The Amazon River is the longest in South America.
Indefinite Articles ("A" / "An")
Use "a" or "an" when referring to something non-specific or general.
Use "a" / "an" when:
• Mentioning something for the first time
I saw a cat in the garden.
• Referring to a non-specific or any member of a group
She is a teacher.
• With singular, countable nouns
He bought an apple.
• Using "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound and "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound
A university (because "university" starts with a "yoo" sound)
An hour (because "hour" starts with a silent "h")
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