Nov 10th 2008 19:13 Mulletron
It really depends on when you're using it. However, here is a basic rule.

'a' when used with an object, like... 'a car' , 'a banana' , 'a pie' , means its singular (meaning only one) and is not specific. 'A car' could be any car in existence.

'the' when used with an object, like 'the car' , 'the banana' , 'the pie' , also means it is singular, but is specific. 'The car' will mean the certain car he/she is talking about.

For example:

Do you see a car? - Meaning, do you see any car anywhere?

Do you see the car? - Meaning, do you see the car I was talking about? (If not stated, its probably figured out by context)

To make them plural:

the = those/these

a = Does not turn plural, usually the 'a' is dropped and 's is added at the end of the noun.

I hope this isn't too much information. Let me know if you need any more help.

Nov 10th 2008 19:15 chequer
This is a very difficult question - native English speakers just use them and we don't really think about why.

One explanation is this:

Imagine a pile of acorns （どんぐり） - there might be lots of piles but it doesn't matter this is just any pile of acorns so I use a.

Now, look closely at the pile - I am referring to this one pile, the one we are talking about so I use the.

Can you find an acorn with spots on? - There might be more than one acorn like this so I'm not talking about a specific one so I use a(n).

In the pile is a special acorn - this time a means one

Can you find the acorn made of gold? - I am talking about one specific acorn so I use the.

Understand yet?

You are standing in the street watching people pass by.

Can you see A person with blue trousers? - there might be one, there might be many, there might be none
Can you see THE person with blue trousers? - I mean the one that is passing by now.


a cat = one cat/any cat
the dog = the one dog we are talking about, looking at, know about


This is just one version of the way to use a/the. It is difficult to explain. I hope this helps a little bit. Try some sentences out and we'll correct them. "Practice makes perfect"

Nov 10th 2008 21:02 vivicat
こんばんは、やぐらだまさん。はじめまして！
あ～、これは私もかなり悩んだ.....でもchequerさんの説明はさすがですね。

Nov 11th 2008 07:53 vivicat
昨日不親切だったかも知れないと思い、補足します。あなたが日記を書かれる時、初めて書く単語がcountableで単数なら、aかtheが必要です。uncountableなら要りません。その単語を同じ日記の中で書かれる時、２度目以降はtheで大丈夫です。
例えば、I bought A book which was written in English yesterday. THE book tells us about.....のように。
私のpoor knowledge about Englishではこういうことになってます。間違ってたらごめんなさい。