The previous sections have shown that the article can perform several functions. A definite article can pick out a certain entity or a set of entities from the domain of discourse (domain D). In the latter case, the set can be construed as a set of individuals (the distributive reading) or as a whole (the collective reading). Furthermore, it can be used generically, in which case the noun phrase is construed as referring to (the prototype of) a class. Indefinite articles can be presentative, i.e. they can introduce a new entity in domain D, or they can refer to an entity in domain D which is not assumed to be identifiable by the hearer. In both cases, two subcases can be distinguished: if the entity is known to the speaker, we have a specific noun phrase; if it is not known to the speaker, we have a non-specific entity. Finally, indefinite articles can be used in generic noun phrases, in which case we are dealing with categorical statements. This leads to the classification of articles in Figure 2.

Note, however, that there are many special cases where the use of the article is not covered by this classification. A discussion of these special cases can be found in Section 19.1.4.