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. Let's go to the park. The girl cried, etc.
2. When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class; as,
The cow is a useful animal. The horse is a noble animal. The cat loves comfort. The banyan is a kind of fig tree. The rose is the sweetest of all flowers, etc.
3. Before some proper names, viz., these kinds of place names:
a) Oceans and seas, e.g. the Pacific, the Black sea.
b) Rivers, e.g. the Ganga, the Nile.
c) Canals, e.g. the Suez Canal.
d) Deserts, e.g. the Sahara.
e) Groups of islands, e.g. the West Indies.
f) Mountain-ranges, e.g. the Himalayas.
g) A very few names of countries, which include words like republic and kingdom; as, the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic, the Ukraine, etc.
4. Before the names of certain books; as, the Bible, the Holy Qur'an.
5. Before names of things unique of their kind; as, the sun, the sky, the earth, etc.
6. Before a proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective or a defining adjectival clause; as,
The great Caesar. The immortal Shakespeare.
7. With Superlatives; as, The darkest cloud has a silver lining. This is the best book for.......
8. With ordinals; as, He was the first man to arrive. The ninth chapter of the book is 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 to give the force of a Superlative; as, The verb is the word in a sentence.
12. As an Adverb with Comparatives; as, The more they get, the more they want.
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. Let's go to the park. The girl cried, etc.
2. When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class; as,
The cow is a useful animal. The horse is a noble animal. The cat loves comfort. The banyan is a kind of fig tree. The rose is the sweetest of all flowers, etc.
- The two nouns man and a woman ( or men and women ) can be used in a general sense without either article; as, Man is the only animal that uses fire. Woman is man's mate.
- But in present-day English a man and a woman are more useful as,
3. Before some proper names, viz., these kinds of place names:
a) Oceans and seas, e.g. the Pacific, the Black sea.
b) Rivers, e.g. the Ganga, the Nile.
c) Canals, e.g. the Suez Canal.
d) Deserts, e.g. the Sahara.
e) Groups of islands, e.g. the West Indies.
f) Mountain-ranges, e.g. the Himalayas.
g) A very few names of countries, which include words like republic and kingdom; as, the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic, the Ukraine, etc.
4. Before the names of certain books; as, the Bible, the Holy Qur'an.
5. Before names of things unique of their kind; as, the sun, the sky, the earth, etc.
6. Before a proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective or a defining adjectival clause; as,
The great Caesar. The immortal Shakespeare.
7. With Superlatives; as, The darkest cloud has a silver lining. This is the best book for.......
8. With ordinals; as, He was the first man to arrive. The ninth chapter of the book is 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 to give the force of a Superlative; as, The verb is the word in a sentence.
12. As an Adverb with Comparatives; as, The more they get, the more they want.
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