Global Breaking News - Monday, December 23, 2024

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 countries, 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 Gulf, 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:
South Africa North America West Germany

the, however, is used before east/west etc. when these are nouns:
the north of Spain 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? ~ 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 unmarried sisters jointly may be addressed
The Misses + surname: The Misses Smith.