|
6. the (the
definite article)
A. Form
the
is the same for
singular and plural and for all genders:
the boy the girl the day the
boys the girls the days
B. Use
The definite article is used.
1. When the object or group of
objects is unique or considered to be unique:
the earth the sea the
sky the equator the stars
2.
Before a noun which has become
definite as a result of being mentioned a second time:
His car struck a tree; you can still
see the mark on the tree
3. Before a noun made definite
by the addition of a phrase or clause:
the girl in blue the man with
the banner the boy that I met the place where I met him
4. Before a noun which by reason
of locality can represent only one particular thing:
Ann is in the garden
(the garden of this house)
Please pass the wine,
(the wine on the table)
Similarly, the postman (the
one who comes to us), the car (our car), the newspaper (the one we
read).
5. Before superlatives and first, second
etc. used as adjectives or pronouns, and
only:
the first (week) the best
day the only way
C. the +
singular noun can represent a class of animals or things.
The whale is in danger of becoming
extinct.
The deep-freeze has made life easier
for housewives But
man, used to represent the human race, has no article
If oil supplies run out, man may
have to fall back on the horse.
the
can be used before a member of a
certain group of people:
The small shopkeeper is finding life
increasingly difficult
the + singular noun as used above takes a singular verb. The pronoun is he, she
or it
The first-class traveller pays more
so he expects some comfort.
D. the +
adjective represents a class of persons: the old = old people in general
E. the is used
before certain proper names of seas, rivers, groups of islands, chains of
mountains, plural names of countnes, deserts, regions
the Atlantic the Netherlands
the Thames the Sahara
the Azores the Crimea
the Alps the Riviera
and before certain other names
the City the
Mall the Sudan
the Hague the Strand
the Yemen
the
is also used before names consisting
of noun + of + noun
the Bay of Biscay
the Gulf of Mexico
the Cape of Good Hope the
United States of America
the
is used before names consisting of
adjective + noun (provided the adjective is not east, west etc )
the Arabian Sea the New
Forest the High Street
the
is used before the adjectives
east/west etc + noun in certain names
the East/West End the East/West
Indies
the North/South Pole
but is normally omitted
Smith Africa North
America West Germany
the,
however, is used before east/west
etc when these are nouns
the north of Spam the West
(geographical)
the Middle East the West
(political)
Compare Go north (adverb in a
northerly direction) with He lives in the north (noun an area in the
north)
F. the is used
before other proper names consisting of adjective + noun or noun + of + noun
the National Gallery the Tower
of London It is also used
before names of choirs, orchestras, pop groups etc
the Bach Choir the Philadelphia
Orchestra the Beatles
and before names of newspapers (The Times)
and ships (the Great Britain)
G. the with
names of people has a very limited use the + plural surname can be used to mean
'the family'
the Smiths = Mr and Mrs Smith (and
children) the + singular
name + clause/phrase can be used to distinguish one person from another of the
same name
We have two Mr Smiths Which do you want-1
~ I want the Mr
Smith who signed this letter
the
is used before titles containing
of (the Duke of York) but it is not used before other titles or ranks
(Lord Olivier, Captain Cook), though if someone is referred to by
title/rank alone the is used
The earl expected The
captain ordered
Letters written to two or more unmarned sisters
jointly may be addressed The Misses + surname
The Misses Smith.
|