Definite Article in Grammar

Definite Article in Grammar

What is a definite article?

The word “The” is a definite article that is most frequently used before a noun to indicate that the noun is specific. Specific means that the noun is unique, previously known, or identified by the speaker. A definite article in grammar is used with any nouns i.e., singular, plural, countable, or uncountable.

• The book I studied yesterday was interesting.
• Who did spill the milk that I bought for my cat?
• You must follow the instructions that you teacher your teacher gave you.

It is important to note that a definite article is an adjective. It also modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence. According to some grammarians, it is a separate part of speech with the name “Articles”. The definite article in grammar is one of them.

In contrast with the definite article, we have indefinite articles that we use before a singular noun. They indicate that the noun is indefinite. Indefinite articles are ‘a’ and ‘an’.

• I eat an apple a day.
• I saw a man plowing in his fields.

 

Where to use the definite article?

 Before Unique Noun

We use a definite article before a noun that is unique or only one.

• Look at the moon. It is very bright tonight.
• Imran khan is the prime minister of Pakistan.
• Who has visited all over the world?

 

Before Noun that is only One in Context

The article ‘the’ is used before a noun that is only one in the context. It means the noun we are discussing is already known. We know which noun it refers to.

• He lives in a flat near the mosque.

The mosque is the only one in this context because here it refers to the mosque that is in our city.

• Tom called back to the man.

In this example, the noun ‘man’ refers to the man who called Tom before Tom’s call back.

 

Before the Noun Already Mentioned

A noun is preceded by a definite article when it is mentioned earlier. A general noun is preceded by an indefinite article for the first time and by a definite article for the second time, third time, and so on. Using of a general noun for the second time or third time is considered already mentioned.

• I saw a man plowing in his fields who was above eighty. I was surprised because the man was energetic and healthy even at this age.

 

With Musical Instruments

When we use any names of musical instruments, we need to use a definite article.

• He knows how to play the piano.
• He also knows how to play the guitar but not very well.

 

With System or Service

A definite article is used before the system or service.

• Many people don’t like to listen to the radio.
• If you told the police on time, they could do something.

 

Before Adjectives to Talk about Groups of People

Sometimes, we use adjectives to talk about a specific group of people. Adjectives like poor, rich, employed, etc. can be used in this regard. If this is the case, then we use the definite article before the adjective.

• Government must do something for the poor.
• If the rich want, they can also do something for the poor to bring them upward.

 

With Names

With Countries with Some Characteristics

When we have names of countries, then we see some characteristics to decide whether we should use a definite article or not. Countries having words like kingdom, states, or republic need definite articles to be used before them. Similarly, if a country has a plural noun as its name, then we use a definite article before the name of the country.

• The United States
• The United Kingdom
• The Netherlands

 

Geographical Features

We use a definite article with some geographical features. The geographical features include mountain ranges, groups of islands, rivers, oceans, seas, canals, deserts, forests, gulfs, peninsulas, and points on the globe.

Examples: the Himalayas, the Pacific Ocean, the Panama Canals, the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula, and the North Pole.

 

Newspapers

A definite article is used in newspapers.

• The Statesman, The Washington Post

 

Organizations

We also use a definite article with organizations.

• The United Nations

Well-known Buildings

A definite article precedes well-known buildings.

• The Taj Mahal

 

Works of Arts

A definite article also precedes works of art.

• The Mona Lisa

 

Hotels and Restaurants

Names of hotels and restaurants are followed by definite articles.

• The Ritz, the King’s Head

Remember that we don’t use definite articles with hotels and restaurants when their names are the names of their owners.

• Brown’s Hotel, Morel’s Restaurant

 

Families

A definite article is used with the names of families.

• The Obamas

 

Names that don’t Follow Definite Articles

As we have studied earlier that we use definite articles with names but not with all names. We don’t use definite articles with the names of the following things:

 

 

Streets  Wall Street Pearl Street	Languages English Urdu
Parks City Park Hong Kong Park	Nationalities Spanish Russian
Cities New York Islamabad	Sports Football Volleyball
States Alabama Alaska	Bays Bristol Bay San Francisco Bay
Countries Pakistan England	Single lakes, mountains, islands Aberdeen Lake Mt. Everest
Continents Asia Australia	Academic subjects Biology Chemistry