Definite Article

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 475.

Basic uses of articles –see G2 p.138

Explanations.

Article.

• Classes

This is one way to refer to classes, and is perhaps more formal than using a plural:

The tiger is threatened with extinction.

Note: Nouns man, woman, child used in a generic sense (as a class) take no article!

We can't be sure about the history of the human race, but man developed earlier than we think.

• National groups

Groups as a whole:

The French eat in restaurants more than the English.

Single examples are not formed in the same way:

A Frenchman/woman, an Englishman/woman.

• Other groups

If these are clearly plural:

the Social Democrats, The Rolling Stones

Note the difference:

Pink Floyd, Queen (no article)

• Unique objects

the moon, the sun

Note that there are other suns and moons in the universe.

This planet has a small moon.

• Titles

These tend to be 'unique'.

The director of studies

If the title is post-modified (has a description coming after the noun), the is more likely, but not essential. Compare:

She became President in 1998.

She became (the) President of the United States in 1998.

• Newspapers

The may be part of the title, and so is capitalised.

The Independent, The Sunday Times

Note that titles of magazines normally take no article: Punch, Time

However, there are many exceptions: The Economist, The New Yorker, so they must be learned.

• Musical instruments

Jane plays the flute.

The guitar is my favourite instrument.

It is, of course, still possible to use a where it would naturally be used.

There was a small brown flute in the window of the shop.

• Emphatic use

This is heavily stressed and emphasises the following noun.

This hotel is theplace to stay.

• Geographical names

The following use the:

Rivers: the Thames

Mountain ranges: the Alps

Oceans: the Mediterranean

Unique features: the Channel, the Arctic

Compass points/areas: the East, the Middle East

Countries: collective or plural: The United Kingdom, The Netherlands

This does not apply to:

Mountain peaks: Everest (but The Matterhorn)

Continents: Asia

Countries: France

The definite article is sometimes used before Lebanon and Gambia:

The Lebanon The Gambia

• Place names

Post-modification, especially with ...of... plays a role in place names.

Compare:

Leeds University/The University of Leeds

London Bridge/The Tower of London

If the first part of a place-name is another name, then normal rules about zero article apply.

Brown's Restaurant

The Garden House Hotel

The same applies in geographical names:

Canvey Island

The Isle of Man

• Most and the most

Mosthotels in England are very expensive, (making a generalisation)

This is the most expensivehotel in town, (talking about a specific hotel)

• Importance of context

The definite article refers to already mentioned items, and so its use depends on context.

The Smiths had a son and a daughter. The son was in the Army and the daughter was training to be a doctor.

On the Saturday, there was a terrible storm.

Here, the Saturday refers to a day in an area of time already mentioned.

On the Saturday of that week ...