a specific, shared information for both the speaker and the listener
First mentioned
Annotations:
I ordered a steak and a salad for lunch. The steak was great but the salad was awful.
A dog was hit by a car near my apartment. The poor creature howled in pain.
similar words, phrases
Visual context
Annotations:
Watch out! Don't shake the table. You'll spill the milk. Okay mum, could you please pass the rice?
General knowledge
Annotations:
I went to an unusual wedding. The bride and groom wore jogging clothes.
The listener knows that a wedding has a bride and groom.
Shared information
Annotations:
A & B work in the same place.
A: Do you think the secretaries make enough money?
B: Yes, I think they do.
Familiar nouns
Annotations:
Refers to a place where the speaker habitually goes to.
When you go to the store, could you buy some milk?
Unique nouns
Annotations:
The Earth rotates around the sun once every 365 days.
Please look at the top of this page.
Noun modifiers
Annotations:
The book that's on sale is on the counter.
The red book is mine.