indefinite articles
Nonspecific noun markers
Indefinite articles are words that introduce a noun without specifying which particular one—in English, *a* and *an*.
They contrast with the definite article *the*, which points to something specific: a dog bit me (some dog) versus the dog bit me (one already known).
The choice between *a* and *an* depends on the following sound, not spelling: *a* before consonant sounds a university, *an* before vowel sounds an hour.
Indefinite singular article
- anVowel-preceding indefinite article
- determinerNoun-introducing word class
- modifierWord altering another
- specifierWord that narrows meaning
Unclear, ill-defined
- unspecifiedNot explicitly named
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- anyUnspecified quantity
- someIndefinite quantity
uncertain · ambiguous · imprecise · undefined · open-ended · noncommittal · approximate · indeterminate
a
Indefinite singular article
- anVowel-preceding indefinite article
- determinerNoun-introducing word class
- modifierWord altering another
vague
Unclear, ill-defined
- unspecifiedNot explicitly named
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- anyUnspecified quantity
some · uncertain · ambiguous · imprecise · undefined · open-ended · noncommittal · approximate · indeterminate · generic
one
Lowest positive integer
- singleOne in number
- individualOne separate human being
- particularSpecific or fussy
sole · lone · solitary · discrete · separate · distinct · isolated · unitary · each · per
indefinite articlesdefinite articles
Noun specifiers for particulars
the · demonstratives · this · that · these
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