Use Of The Definite Article

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Use Of The Definite Article

Published on Wednesday 11 April 2012 in Grammar

The Definite Article "the" is used---
1- When we talk about a particular person or thing, or one already referred to (that is, when it is clear from the context which one we mean); as,

The book you want is out of print. (Which book? The one you want.)
Let's go to the park. (= the park in this town.)
The girl cried. (the girl = the girl already talked about)

2- When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class;as,

The cow is a useful animal. (Or we may say, "Cows are useful animals.")
The horse is a noble animal.
The cat loves comfort.
The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.
The banyan is a king of fig tree. (Do not say, "a king of a fig tree." This is a common error.)

The two nouns man and woman can be used in a general sense without either article.

Man is the only animal that uses fire.
Woman is man's mate.

But in present day English a man and a woman (or men and women) are more usual.

A woman is more sensitive than a man.

3- Before some proper names, viz., these kinds of place-names:

Ocean and seas, e.g. the pacific, the Blank Sea.
Rivers, e.g. the Ganga, the Nile.
Canal, e.g. the Suez canal
Deserts, e.g. the Sahara
Groups of islands, e.g. The West Indies.
Mount Ranges, e.g. the Himalayas, the Alps
A very few names of countries, which include words like republic and kingdom (e.g. the Irish Republic, the United Kingdom) also the Ukraine, the Netherlands (and its seat of government the Hugue)

4- Before the names of certain books;as,

The Vedas, the Puranas, the lliad, the Ramayana.

But we say-

Homer's lliad, Valmilki's Ramayana.

5- Before names of things unique of their kind;as,

The sun, the sky, the ocean, the sea, the earth.

Note- Sometimes the is placed before a Common Noun to it the meaning of an Abstract noun; as,

At last the warrior (the warlike or martial spirit) in him was thoroughly aroused.

6- Before a Proper Noun when it is qualified by an adjective or a defining adjectival clause; as,

The great Caesar : the immortal Shakespeare.
The Mr. Rony whom you met last night is my uncle.

7- With Superlative;as,

The darkest cloud has a silver lining.
This is the best book of elementary chemistry.

8- With Ordinals;as,

He was the first man to arrive.
The ninth chapter of the book is very interesting.

9- Before musical instruments;as,

He can play the flute.

10- Before an adjective when the noun is understood;as,

The poor are always with us.

11- Before a noun (with emphasis) to give the force of Superlative;as,

The verb is the word(= the chief word) in a sentence.

12- As an adverb with Comparative;as,

The more the merrier.
(= by how much more, by so much the merrier)
The more they get, the more they want.

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