Thread: It's on the(a) table.

Originally Posted by Selexin

The question to native English speakers.
Which article would you use in this case?

- Where is my book?
- It's on the(a) small table in the room.

If both speakers know that there are more then one small table in the room.

It's on a small table in the room.

Using "a" is referencing that the person realizes one must look on ALL the small tables in the room to find the book.
Using "the" denotes that it would be only one small table in the room.