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Which article to use

How do you know which article to use? The choice depends largely on whether you are referring to the noun in a general, non-specific or specific way.

  1. General reference means you are referring to a noun in a general way.
  2. Non-specific reference means you are referring to any one of many possible items or introducing a noun for the first time in the text.
  3. Specific reference means you are referring to a particular item or noun mentioned previously.

Are you referring to the noun? Generally? or Non-specifically? or Specifically?
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