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the vs. a / an

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First mention · a / an

I saw a dog. · Any previously unidentified dog

Known or specific · the

The dog followed me. · Now both people know which dog

Use a or an when the listener does not yet know which one. Use the when both speaker and listener can identify it.

General vs. específico

Slide 21

Tips

the vs. a / an

  1. Pregunta: “¿Mi oyente puede identificar cuál?” Primera mención suele usar a/an; una mención posterior, algo único o algo visible para ambos puede usar the. “Importante para mí” no basta.
  2. a/an introduces one unidentified member; the points to an identifiable referent.