Question

Could you close ________________door behind you, please?
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer 1

Hint:
‘The’ is a definite article that modifies a specific noun, whereas a/an is used to describe a more general noun. For this reason, the is also referred to as a definite article. The definite article, the, is used before both singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific.

Complete answer:
Option A: As ‘a’ refers to a non-specific thing, and also ‘A’ is a non-definite article. So, we can not use that over here. Thus, option a is incorrect.
Option B: As ‘an’ also refer to a nonspecific thing, and “an” is used before words that start with a vowel sound. we can not use an either. Thus, option b is incorrect.
Option C: In the given sentence, the noun ‘door’ is made specific by the words ‘behind you’. So, the speaker is clarifying which particular door, or the one behind ‘you’. In this case, we use ‘the’. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group. Also, The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. Hence, option C is absolutely correct.
Option D: Since we need an article ‘the’ for a specific noun and no article is used when a plural countable noun is generic or non-specific. Thus, option D is not correct.

Note:
‘A’ and ‘An’ are non-definite articles. As they modify nouns that are not specific as their identity is not made known. Consonant sounds call for an “a”, and vowel sounds call for an “an”. The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader.