F. A Determiner is a modifying word that determines the kind of reference a noun or noun group has. Determiners can be Specific or General. (e.g. a, the, every)
F1. Specific Determiners are the definite article ‘the’; 'possessives' (my, your, his, her, its; our, their, whose); 'demonstratives' (this, that, these, those); 'interrogatives' (which)
a. use a Specific Determiner when we know exactly what we are referring to (e.g. Can you pass me the salt please?)
F2. General Determiners are: a, an, any, another, other, what, etc.
a. When we are talking about things in general, we can use a uncountable noun or a plural noun without Determiner (e.g. Milk is very good for you.) or can use a singular noun with the 'indefinite article 'a/ an' (e.g. A woman was lifted to safety by a helicopter.)
b. use the General Determiner 'any' with a singular noun or an uncountable noun when we are talking about all of those people or things. (e.g. It’s very easy. Any child can do it. (= All children can do it))
c. use the General Determiner 'another' to talk about an additional person or thing. (e.g. Would you like another glass of wine?) The plural form of another is 'other'. (e.g. I spoke to John, Helen and a few other friends.)
Today's Idiom:
best (or greatest) thing since sliced bread: something is the best and most useful innovation or development invented for a long time.
Example: We think that she is the greatest thing since sliced bread.