Introduction

1. The Definite Article "The"

1. 1. Form

Ø "The" as definite article is the same for the singular and plural forms.

·        The boy = the boys

·        The house = the houses

·        The situation = the situations

·        The case = the cases

Ø "The" as definite article is the same for genders. See the examples words below.

·        The boy

·        The girl

·        The days

Ø "The" is normally pronounced /ði: /before a vowel sound and /ðə/ before a consonant sound. See the examples words below.

·        The ice          =           /ði: …….…../

·        The snow      =           /ðə …………/

·        The case        =          /ðə …………/

·        The island     =          /ði: ………..../

Note 11:

Ø The choice between /ði: / and /ðə/ depends completely on pronunciation, not spelling. We pronounce /ði: /before a vowel sound, even if it is written as a consonant. See the example words below.

·        The hour of          =           /ði: aʊə…….………../

·        The MP of            =          /ði:em pi: …….………../

Ø And we pronounce /ðə/ before a consonant sound, even if it is written as a vowel. See the example words below.

·        The university                      =           /ðəju:……….………../

·        The one-pound coin             =         /ðəwʌn…….………../

·        The European Union            =         /ðəju ……….………../

 

1. 2. Definition of the Definite Article

          "The" as a definite article "the commonest article" usually means something like "the speaker know which the speaker mean" in the sense that it describes something specific that is known to the writer / speaker and the reader / listener. For example, if John needs to drive the car of his father somewhere, he might say, "may I use the car?" John uses the definite article "the" because he himself and his father know which car John is referring to "the father's car". So the definite article is used before a noun "singular, plural, and uncountable" when listener / reader knows or can easily see which particular person, place or thing the speaker / writer is talking about.  In short, the definite article is used in the sense that the thing or people that are talked about presumed to be known to the speaker and his listener. Furthermore, there are a number of principal ways in which a reader or listener can know specifically what a noun word is referring to "that is, a number of reasons a noun might be considered definite, and henceforth, it must take the definite article –the" such as the context is shared among them.  In conclusion, "the" is called the definite article because it identifies a specific noun either singular or plural that is known both to the speaker and his listener. If you believe your reader or listener know exactly what you are referring to, and then you will usually need the definite article in front of a noun. Examples:

·        I bought a company last week. The company produces engine parts (you have just mentioned the company, so you both know which one).

·        Can I ask a question? (There are many questions; can I ask one?)

·        Can you repeat the question, please? (The question that you asked).

Reminder

The definite article “the” is used when both the writer and the reader know the specific person, place, or thing(s) being referred to. When using the definite article, the context of the sentence in question will contain information already shared in an earlier part of the piece. For example, when we read the sentence, “I really enjoyed the book,” we can infer that the specific details of the book have already been mentioned in a previous sentence.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1. 3. The Main Uses of the Definite Article "The"

        This section presents the different contexts in which the definite article "the" is used or must be used.

Ø When the object or group of objects is unique, extraordinary or considered to be unique in a given setting in which both the speaker and the listener know it or share something about it.  So it is used before a noun describing a person, place or thing unique of their kinds" as a common facts". Uniqueness quality refers to the state of being of the person, place or thing to be the only one of its kind. The definite article is used in this sense because the noun being referred to is the only one around us. It is worth to be noted here that this quality of the noun is treated as equivalent to a superlative adjective. In this construction the means 'the best, the only, or precisely', so it has a heightening effect on the noun it modifies. So the listener may know which one we mean because there is no choice or there is only one in our setting or part of the world. So this reference to an item is understood by all speakers and listeners in the same way and image. See the examples below:

·        The earth planet revolves around the sun once every 365 days. "There is only one earth and only one sun in our solar system". It is worth to note here that the other similar objects like the sun outside our solar system do not belong to our description. So the article here is applied only to what is within our solar system. 

·        People used to think the earth planet was flat.

·        Do you trust the government?

·        The president declares plenty of economic reforms.

·        I saw the lion at the zoo of Algiers. "Here, we are talking about a specific noun –lion-. Probably there is only one lion of its kind in this particular zoo".

·        I saw the female lion at the zoo of Algiers. "Here, we are talking about a specific noun – female lion-. Probably there are two lions but only one female lion of its kind in this particular zoo".

·        This is the place for our picnic.

·        He is the authority on the subject.

Ø It is used before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned for the second, third, fourth time. When the noun is mentioned for the first time it could be indefinite for the listener and the latter may ask for more clarifications but when we refer back to the noun which has been mentioned before, the listener may know which one we mean because we have mentioned it to them before. So here "the" is used when counting nouns for the second and subsequent references to the same noun. This item could be explicitly referred to, or implied. In short, when a noun is mentioned again, i.e. when it refers back to a noun mentioned already it takes the definite article. This is called an anaphoric function of the word "the". It is worth to be noted here that the anaphoric function means the use of a word that refers to or replaces another word used earlier in a sentence. See the examples below:

·        She is got two children: a boy and a girl. The boy is fourteen and the girl is eight.

·        So what did you do then? They gave the money straight back to the policemen. "We could suppose that the listener has already heard about the money and the policemen."

·        This is an old palace. People believe that the palace was built 1000 years ago by the emperor. The noun word palace in the second part of the example has become definite as a result of being mentioned for the second time since it was mentioned before and described as an old palace with an indefinite article.

·        A man knocked on my door, the man was bleeding.

Ø The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun word is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group which are both known by speaker and listener. Sometimes, speakers may put modifiers, qualifiers, and quantifiers to indicate precisely who or what the speaker is referring to. In short, it is used before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause. This idea refers to a modifying word, phrase, or clause follows the noun and makes it clear with specific, place or thing you are referring to. But not every noun that is modified in this way is definite; it depends largely on the situation and on what you can reasonably expect your listener to know about. See the examples below:

·        The man you met yesterday. "The modifier word –yesterday- made the noun word –man- more specific and particular".

·        The dog that bit me ran away. "Here, we are talking about a specific dog. Not any dog but only the dog that bits me".

·        I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat. "Here, we are talking about a specific policeman. Even if we do not know the policeman, it is still a particular because it is the one who saved the cat. So I sorted out this policeman out of the all".

·        The boy that I met yesterday.

·        Would you pass me the sugar? The sugar that is on the table.

·        The place where I met him.

Ø It is used before a superlative, ranking adjectives, ordinal and ordinal numbers and forms to show order or number" which make the noun word identity specific. We usually use "the" with superlatives because there is normally only one best, biggest, individual or group of things in such a context. So it is clear which one we are talking about according to both the speaker and listener. For the same reason, we usually use "the" with first, second, next, last, same and only used as adjectives and pronouns. See the examples below: 

·        I just saw the most popular movie of the year. "There are many movies, but only one particular is the most popular among the group of movies. Therefore, we use the".

·        The day I got my BAC is the best day in my life. "There is only one day which is the best. Here that day is specified and selected among all the days of my whole life".

·        The first week of the 2018 year. "Ordinal number"

·        I am the oldest one among my brothers and sisters in my family.

·        We went to the same school.

·        Can I have the next pancake?

Ø It is used before a noun which becomes definite by reason of locality, location and setting. The latters can represent only one particular thing which is understood clearly by the speaker and his listener from the setting and situation that they both mean. Here the definite article is used in the sense that the context or situation makes the noun's identity clear in the mind of the speaker and listener. See the examples below: 

·        Ann is in the garden. "The garden of the house"

·        Please pass me the wine. "The wine on the table"

·        The postman gave me the letter. "The postman of our village"

·        The teacher asked the student to close the door. "You would use the definite article because it would undoubtedly be clear to both of you which door you were referring to, it must be the door of the classroom."

Note 12:

Again, you have to be sure that your reader or listener has exactly the same context or situation in mind that you are thinking or referring to; otherwise, he or she will be confused by your use of the definite article. There must be a shared setting, context, situation and experience between the speaker and listener.

·        This magazine helps women analyze the problematic situation and offers possible remedies.

But this was the first time she had mentioned a problematic situation. Her readers were therefore confused, because her use of the word "the" implied that they were already supposed to know which problematic situation she was referring to.

 

Ø The definite article "the" is used before some proper nouns of geographical "place" names.

§  Names of ranges of mountains and hills. The Himalayas, the Alps ……………

§  Names of rivers, channels, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific Ocean, the Red sea, the Amazon, the Mississippi ………………………………………….

§  When we describe or refer to the points on the globe: the equator, the North Pole ……..…

§  When we describe or refer to the geographical areas: the Middle East, the West, the Farthest East ……………….………………….…………………..…

§  When we describe or refer to deserts, forests, canals, gulfs, peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the black forest, the Amazon Green Rainforest, the Iberian Peninsula ……………………………………………………………….

§  When we describe or refer to groups of islands: the Azores, the Maldives, the West Indies ……………………………………………………………………..

§  When we describe or refer to names consisting of "noun + of + noun": the Gulf of Minco, the Cape of Good Hope

§  When we describe or refer to most hotels "the Grand Hotel"

§  When we describe or refer to most cinemas and theatres  "the Play House"

§  When we describe or refer to most museums and art galleries "the British Museum"

Ø It is used before the names of countries and states that look plural, including countries that end in "s" or have some of the following words: united, union, republic, kingdom, and so on. See the examples below:

·        The Philippines

·        The United States of America

·        The Republic of Algeria

·        The United Kingdom

·        The European Union

·        The Netherlands

Ø "The" as a definite article is used before a noun whose identity is a common knowledge or can be easily inferred. In this construction "the" denotes a person's title, rank, or profession etc. See the examples below:

·        The president of Algeria will give a speech tomorrow. Here both the speaker and his listener must have full details of the president of Algeria in terms of his name, history, characters, personality as their common knowledge. 

·        The Prime Minister will apply the instructions very immediately.

·        The last prophet changed the world.

·         The postman decides to bring to correspondence to the old people.

Ø "The" is used before the names of holy/great books. It is worth to note here that   the is not used before the name of a book when it appears before the name of the author in the possessive case i.e., before name + 's: See the examples below:

·        the Koran

·        the Bible

·        the Gita

·        I have read the novel of Animal Farms. (Not, the Animal Farms)

Ø "The" is used also before names of musical instruments, used with the verb "to play". In addition, to refer to names of choirs, orchestras, pop groups etc. as well as names of newspapers and magazines. See the examples below:

·        I play the guitar every day.

·        She plays very well the chess set.

·        He used to play the piano when he was at school.

·        The Philadelphia Orchestra

·        The Times declares the decision of the president.

Ø "The" is used with the meaning "the well -known". After a name, an identifying expression with "the" is often used to make it clear that a person, thing, place referred to is "the well-known one". See the examples below:

·        She married Richard Burton, the actor.

·        I would like you to meet Cathy Parker, the novelist.

·        They attended the first meeting with Donald Trump, the president.

Ø "The" is used before names of newspapers. See the examples below:

·        The Hindustan Times

·        The Times of India

·        The New York Times

·        The Washington Post the Dawn

Ø "The" is used before names of inventions: See the examples below:

·        The telephone

·        The microscope

·        The wheel

·        The steam engine

·        Who invented the telephone? (Not, telephone)

1. 3. Omissions of the Definite Article "The"

The definite article is not used before some names of places, names of things, or names of people. The situations where the definite article is not used are as follows:

Ø It is omitted before abstract nouns which are used in a general sense but when these nouns are used in a particular and specific sense they take again the definite article. See the examples below:

·        Men fear death. "Death is an abstract noun used in general way in the sense that the noun word refers to all the men of the world"

·        The death of the Prime Minister left his party without a leader. "Here the noun death is an abstract noun used in a particular way. Here death is restricted only to one particular and specific person who is only the Prime Minister. It is worth again to mention here that that particular Prime Minister must be inferred from the setting as an Algerian, French, Japanese ………………".

·        People nowadays like democracy.

·        Women love to attend parities.

·        Cats like fish.

Ø It is omitted after a noun in the possessive case, or a possessive adjective. In short, the presence of the possessive case and apostrophe implies the absence of the definite article and the vice versa is true. When you rephrase the expression of the possessive case then you must add the definite article before the noun. See the examples below:

·        The boy's uncle = the uncle of the boy

·        It is my blue book = the blue book is mine

·        The teachers' notebook = the notebook of the teacher

·        It is their point of view = the point of view is theirs

Ø Before names of games and sports. See the examples below:

·        Football is my favorite game.

·        I played basketball yesterday.

·        He plays gulf.

Ø It is also omitted before names of meals. See the examples below:

·        The scots have porridge for breakfast.

·        I have a nice dinner every week.

Ø It is omitted before parts of the body and articles of clothing, as these normally prefer a possessive adjectives. See the examples below:

·        Raise your right hand.

·        He took off his coat.

·        Put your finger on the icon.

·        They nod and shake their head interchangeably.

Ø It is also omitted before the following names "home, church, bed, court, school, college, university, hospital, prison, school, work, mosque, amphitheater, synagogue post office, farm, factory, shop, market, hotel, town ………………………………". It is worth to mention that these kinds of words do not take the definite article when they are used for their only one primary purpose. In addition, they do not take additives, adjectives and descriptors  in this sense. See the examples below:

·        He is at home. "When the word home is used alone when the speaker lives their daily"

·        He went home. "When home is treated as an adverb"

·        I go to hospital to be cured. "No definite article because the noun hospital is used for its primary purpose and here we can omit the purpose because it is understood and implied".

·        I went to university yesterday to study. "Primary purpose"

·        My friend was in prison because he did not pay a fine. "Primary purpose"

·        He is on his way to work. "Work as a place of work –primary purpose-"

·        We go to town sometimes to buy clothes. "It means the town of the speaker"

But, when we use the previously listed nouns and other similar nouns for their secondary purpose, they take the definite article. It is worth to mention again that these kinds of nouns do take the definite article since they are used for their many and different secondary purposes. In addition, they need additives and descriptors. Examples:

·        I went to the church to see the stained glass. "Secondary purpose because I did not go to the church to exercise the primary purpose for which the church is established which is praying."

·        He goes to the prison sometimes to give lectures. "Secondary purpose"

·        They visited the court to discover the splendid architecture. "Secondary purpose"

·        I went to the university to see the chancellor about a financial deal. "Secondary purpose"

·        My mother visited the home of my sister.

Important Note:

Names like "home, church, bed, court, school, college, university, hospital, prison, school, work, and town" are used with and without the definite article as follows: Primary purpose and Secondary purpose.

Primary purpose

·        I go to school to study mathematics.

·        To go to mosque for pray.

 

Secondary purpose

·        He goes to the prison sometimes to give lectures.

·        I joined that national bank foe some training.

 

4. Articles Rules

There are few articles that are easy to understand and will improve your articles use and everyday language use as well. Here are some of the article rules.

Number

Rules and examples

Rule 1

The very article rule is in front of specific singular/plural nouns that is specific in nature, always “the” used should be used before. Example:

·        The kid is polite with elders.

·        Can you pass me the ketchup bottle on table?

Rule 2

When referring to a noun that belongs to large group of nouns & is not specific, then indefinite articles should be used. Example:

·        I have been waiting for a reply from last night.

·        I will ask a friend of mine to accompany me.

Rule 3

In conversation “The” will only use when listeners have information about the speaker’s topic. Example:

·        Are you done with the sale report?

·        Was it a salsa night at the club yesterday?

Rule 4

When there is an uncounted noun in a sentence, “The” should be used always. Example:

·        He dropped all the sugar on the ground.

·        He loves the chocolate her sister gifted on sibling’s day.

Rule 5

When describing a group of places & not referring to any single place, “The” is used. Example:

·        The United Kingdom

·        The united states of America

Rule 6

“The” is used before the things that are unique and uncommon. Example:

·        The sun & stars lighten up my mood.

Rule 7

Always use the correct form of the article when forming a sentence, Correct form is article + adjective + Noun Example:

·        The bungalow on the beach

·        An open kitchen is perfect for our new home

Rule 8

You should always use “A” before a constant word & “an” vowel sound. Sometimes there are alphabets that are silent in the word, in this case, go with the sound of the word and choose “A” or “An” Example:

·        What an epic journey from Paris to London!

·        I am planning to buy a big apartment.

Rule 9

Eliminate using articles in front of nationalities, names & languages Examples:

·        Hi I am Algerian, nice to meet you!

·        I learned Spanish in school.

Rule 10

Do not use any articles when sentences are about a general idea elaborating a noun that is uncountable. Example:

·        She likes swimming.

 

Summary

A noun is definite if it refers to something specific (either singular or plural) that is known to both the writer and the reader. The noun may be:

Uses of the Definite Article

N

Use

Example

1

Before a unique person, place, or thing. There is only one example of it in a given situation.

The moon of the Earth turns around the earth planet once times a month.

The president of Algeria is ill.

2

Before something that becomes definite when it is mentioned for the second time

I attended a lecture yesterday. The lecture was very useful.

There is a child going in that street. The child is Marry.

3

Before a superlative adjective

The best idea is mine.

4

before an ordinal number to indicate positions like first, second

The third unit is useful.

The second prize was won by John.

5

before the name of a rivers, regions,

The Nile river is very large.

6

before the name of  a musical instruments

She plays the piano.

7

before plural names of countries

The Philippines nation is productive.

8

Before an adjective used as a noun. It is used before singular adjectives or nouns when they are used to represent a class of objects or persons:

The rich people are intelligent.

The dog is a faithful animal.

9

before organizations, institutions and bodies

The world health organization

10

very well people and things

The financial crisis of 2008 was sharp.

11

before the names of Newspapers

the Washington Post, the Republica,

12

a decade or century

The 1990s and The 15 century

13

before a currency

The dollar stands steadily against the euro.

14

before a scientific categorization

The giraffe is the tallest of all animals.

15

before the names of directions and poles

the south, the North Pole, the east, the west, etc.

16

before the names of periods of history

the modern Age, the stone Age, the Victorian age, etc.

17

before the names of holy books

the Ramayana, the Bible, the Quran, etc.

18

before a noun modified by a ‘phrase’ or ‘clause’:

The boy, who is in a black coat, is a university student. I like the pen which is made in Nepal.

19

before special meals

The birthday party, the wedding party etc.

I liked the dinner served by Smith.

20

before parts of day

the morning, the afternoon, the evening, etc

21

before the names of scientific innovations

the telephone, the television, the computer, the radio, etc.

22

before the names of political parties

the Congress, the CPN-UML, the Forum, the Labor Party, the Communist Party, etc

23

before the names of the parts in the house:

the kitchen, the bedroom, the study room, the dining room, the toilet, etc.

24

before the name of the historic events and buildings:

The Second World War ended in 1945.

The White House is situated in Washington D.C.

25

before the names of ships, trains and aero-planes:

the Mary Celeste, the Titanic, the Buddha Air, etc.

26

It is used before a noun that has been made definite by the addition of a phrase or a clause:

The boy that got the prize.

The girl in red

The man I met yesterday is a bureaucrat.

27

It is used before nouns like English, French, German etc. to denote people belonging to the country concerned:

The French defeated the English on the battlefield.

28

It is used to denote the purpose (other than the normal one) behind the visit to a hospital, college, bed, temple, prison, market, office etc.: secondary purpose (But if the visit is for the usual purpose for which these places exist, then the definite article will not be used: After the accident, the injured were taken to hospital.)

I went to the college to enquire about my son's progress at studies.

29

It is used before he names of government departments. Also some business houses, hotels, banks etc. incorporate the in their names:

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting,

The Grand Hotel,

 

Omission of the Definite Article

N

Omission

Example

1

It is not used with the names of countries, towns, streets and proper names:

His house is in Hyde Park Street.

2

It is not used before abstract nouns when these are used in a general sense: (But when an abstract noun is used in a particular sense, it is preceded by the definite article: The animosity between the two brothers is well-known.)

Love is the theme of this movie.

Honesty is the best policy.

3

It is not used with collective nouns like mankind, society, labor etc.:

Our actions must benefit humanity.

4

It is not used with proper nouns:

Churchill was the first Prime Minister of Britain.

I met Mohan at the station.

5

It is not used with the names of metals, materials, games, diseases etc. when

these are referred to in a general sense:

Gold is a costly metal.

There is craze for cricket among the youth of this area.

6

It is not used before plural nouns when these are used in a general sense: (But when used in a particular sense, the must be used: The mangoes on this tree are ripe.)

Mangoes grow in plenty in this area.

Lions have been seen in this forest.

 

Exercise 1

Instruction: Insert either the Definite Article "the" or Zero Article "0" in the Space provided whenever it is Necessary with Justification.

1.     The local newspaper printed an article about pet health yesterday. ……1…. article discussed how to protect dogs from diseases.

2.     My grandmother lives in ……2…..first floor. The first floor is …3……best floor to live for old people.

3.     I went to……4….. church to see the stained glass meanwhile I meet many people come to ……5….church to worship God.

4.     ……6….death of the president left the country without a leader. All human beings fear …7……..death.

5.     The boy's ……8…… uncle takes care of his family every day.  ……9……uncle of the boy is a famous doctor in the country.

6.     When I share my breakfast with my family on the same table I asked them to pass me …10….sugar.

Exercise 2

Direction: Fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences with the word or words given in brackets at the end. Us either the plain noun, or the noun preceded by the (whichever you think is correct).

1.     In Austria the people speak………....(German)

2.     ……………. is spoken in many countries. (English)

3.     ………….. have been a sea-faring people for many centuries. (English)

4.     Can you speak…………….? (French)

5.     …………. are a very musical nation. (Italians)

6.     Many great ships cross……………..(Atlantic Ocean)

7.     …………….. is a very large country in …………...(India, Asia)

8.     We arranged to meet outside ………..…..(Woolworth's)

9.     His uncle is manager of …….…..in this town. (Hong Kong Bank)

10. He came for an hour, but stayed all………...(evening)

 

Exercise 3

Instruction: Fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences with the noun given in brackets at the end. Insert the before the noun wherever you think it necessary.

1.     He was found guilty of theft and sent to ……….. .. for six months. (prison)

2.     My son will be old enough to go to …………. .next May. (school)

3.     I must go to .................to see the headmaster. (school)

4.     My wife has gone to ……………...to visit a sick friend. (hospital)

5.     He is very ill, and has to go to ………………..(hospital)

6.     Mr. Smith and his family generally go to ………..on Sunday morning. (church)

7.     John is ill, so he cannot go to …………....(school)

8.     The vicar has gone to ……….to inspect the damage done by the gale. (church)

9.     I feel tired, as I went to …………..late last night. (bed)

10. In Britain many people do not go to ………....on Saturday morning. (business)

11. I no longer go to …………....on Saturdays. (office)

12. I have not been to……………..for several months. (cinema)

13. Some of the visitors came by...............others by...(train, bus)

14. Are you going to India by………..or by………..? (sea, air)

15. We sail tomorrow on………………..(Dunbar Castle)


آخر تعديل: الأحد، 16 مارس 2025، 11:20 PM