Known / Specific / General Reference
Is it known, new, specific, or general?
Meaning
How the speaker expects the listener to identify a participant: new, known, specific, nonspecific, generic, unique, or shared.
How to spot it
Ask whether the listener already knows which thing is meant.
Examples
a|the|this|any|some|dogs
a dog|the dog|dogs in general|this book
I saw a dog, then the dog ran away.
Visual guide
Reference choice new thing -> a dog known thing -> the dog pointed thing -> this book any one -> any dog whole kind -> dogs
Marking options English: article a dog / the dog Other languages may use: demonstrative: this dog word order or case context only Same job: identify referent
Language View
In your native language
English articles and determiners strongly encode new, known, specific, general, and countability-related reference.
I saw a dog. The dog was black.
a/the = new vs. known reference
In your learning language
Reference and definiteness are highly visible through articles, demonstratives, and sometimes zero article.
un perro / el perro / los perros
a dog / the dog / dogs
Learners often confuse definite, indefinite, and generic article use, especially with abstract and plural nouns.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.