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Kk Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

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What is different between (I want to see a doctor) and (I want to see the doctor)?
I am confused with A and THE.
THANK FOR YOUR ANSWER
  

Top answer

"I want to see a doctor" asks to see any one of many possible doctors. It does not matter which doctor. "I want to see the doctor" asks to see one particular doctor only.

— CalifJim

  • "I want to see a doctor" asks to see any one of many possible doctors.
  • It does not matter which doctor.
  • "I want to see the doctor" asks to see one particular doctor only.
  • No other doctor will be satisfactory.
  • Where the X's represent doctors, X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 ...
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2 Answers
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"I want to see a doctor" asks to see any one of many possible doctors. It does not matter which doctor.
"I want to see the doctor" asks to see one particular doctor only. No other doctor will be satisfactory.

Where the X's represent doctors,

X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 ...

I want to see a doctor.
=
I want to see X1 or X2 or X3 or X4 or X5 or ...

[We are
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Another way to look at it, KK, is that with 'a doctor' there are several available, while with 'the doctor' there is only one at the clinic.
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