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What does the phrase a mean?

The phrase "a" is a definite article in English. It is used to specify a singular noun, indicating that it is one out of many possible items.

Here's a breakdown:

* Singular: "A" refers to one thing, not multiple things. For example, "a cat" means one cat, not multiple cats.

* Specific: "A" indicates that the noun is one specific item, but not a particular one. For instance, "a cat" could be any cat, not a specific cat you already know.

* Countable: "A" is used before countable nouns, meaning nouns that can be counted (e.g., a book, a chair).

Examples:

* "A dog" is a single dog, not a group of dogs.

* "A red apple" means one apple, and it's red.

* "I need a new car." This means any new car will do, not a specific one.

Exceptions:

* "A" is not used before uncountable nouns, which cannot be counted (e.g., water, air).

* "A" is also not used before plural nouns.

I hope this explanation helps!

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