Notes:

Specific articles are used with nouns which have been identified previously. (The speaker and the listener both know which thing/person/substance/idea is being referred to.)

• The teacher is coming up the stairs.

(Both listener and speaker know which teacher and which stairs.)

• Give me the red shirt. (I know which one you are talking about.)

Non-specific articles are used with nouns that have not been identified previously (by both the speaker and the listener.) They are used with items that have not been singled-out yet. (Note: As soon as the items are identified, they require a specific article.)

• I want a candy bar. (Any candy bar will do.)
• Which one do you want? (Asking for specification)
• The one on the right. (I choose that one.)

• Give me some milk. (Any milk is fine.)
• I need some new shoes. (But I haven’t decided which ones to buy yet.)

 

• I bought some shoes at Valmart. (I know which shoes, but you don’t.)
• These are the shoes that I bought. (Now we both know which ones.)

 

Non-count and plural nouns are used without articles in the generic sense.

• Cats are afraid of dogs. (in general)
• Water is necessary for survival.

*However, singular count nouns cannot stand alone in a sentence, so an article (usually a or an) is used.

• Oranges contain Vitamin C. (generally)
• Orange contains Vitamin C. (incorrect)
• An orange contains Vitamin C. (okay)

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