New and known information
Does the listener already know this?
Significado
Speakers help listeners keep track of what is being introduced and what is already familiar. This lets the listener connect each new message to what they already know from the conversation or situation. Languages use articles, pronouns, word order, or stress, and those without articles rely on other signals and context. Specific or general asks which thing or kind is meant; this block asks whether the listener can already identify it or knows about it.
Como identificar
Follow how people and things are introduced and mentioned again, including those the listener can identify from the shared situation.
Na tua língua materna
An indefinite article such as um or uma often introduces a new participant, while a definite article such as o or a marks someone or something the listener can identify. Identification can come from the situation, not just from an earlier mention. Pronouns, understood omissions, word order and stress also help distinguish familiar material from new information.
Conheci um vizinho novo hoje.
Um introduces the neighbor into the conversation.
O vizinho veio se apresentar.
O points back to the identifiable neighbor.
Ele mora no segundo andar.
Ele continues referring to the neighbor without repeating the noun.
Na tua língua de aprendizagem
English often introduces one person or thing with a/an and refers back with the or a pronoun such as it. The can also mark something identifiable from the situation, even when it has not been mentioned before. Word order and stress also help separate familiar information from the new message.
I bought a lamp. The lamp was cheap. It works well.
A introduces the lamp; the and it refer back to it.
Could you close the window?
The listener can identify the window from the situation, without an earlier mention.
There's a new cafe near the station.
This structure introduces something new into the conversation.
Learners whose language has no articles may miss how a/an and the help listeners follow a person or thing. Learners whose language often leaves understood participants unspoken may omit a required English subject pronoun when referring back.