Grade 10 Grammar Lesson 28 A, an and the: things already known

Do we always use ‘a/an’ when we mention something for the first time?
Is it correct to say ‘a population of..’?
Is it correct to say ‘at the beginning of’?

•  We use a/an with a singular noun when we don’t expect the listener to be able to identify which one we mean.
•  We use the when we expect the listener to identify which one we mean.
•  We use a/an when we mention a singular noun for the first time, and the when we mention it in the same context again as the listener is in a position to understand which one we mean.
•  Sometimes, the person or thing may be understood even if we’ve not mentioned it before.
•  We often use the with phrases in the pattern the.of.
•  Also, the beginning/middle/end of. the back/front/side/top of.

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