What do indefinite articles refer to?

Indefinite articles, "a" and "an," refer to non-specific or general nouns. They indicate that the noun being referred to is one of many, and the speaker is not specifying a particular one.

Here's a breakdown:

* "A" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. For example: "a cat," "a book," "a university."

* "An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. For example: "an apple," "an hour," "an umbrella."

Examples:

* "I saw a dog in the park." (It doesn't matter which dog, just any dog)

* "I need an eraser." (It doesn't matter which eraser, just any eraser)

Contrast with definite articles:

Definite articles ("the") refer to specific nouns that have already been mentioned or are otherwise understood. For example:

* "I saw the dog in the park." (This indicates a specific dog that has already been mentioned or is known to both the speaker and listener)

Key takeaway:

Indefinite articles introduce a noun for the first time, while definite articles refer to a noun that has already been identified.