Grammar: Using Article ‘the’

 

Using article ‘the’

An article is a word that modifies a noun.

In English, there are two different types of articles:

i.                    the definite article (the) and

ii.                  the indefinite article (a/an).

Today, we are only going to discuss about article ‘the’.

Use article ‘the’ for:

1.      Names of oceans, seas, rivers, and canals

Remember that the definite article is always used with these bodies of water.

For example, the Amazon, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal.

i.      I would like to swim in the Red Sea, and you?

  1. The Amazon is the longest river in the world.

2.      The names of unique objects

This means that only one of the object or thing exists; it is one of a kind. Specifically, the sun, the moon, the internet, the sky, the earth.

For example:

i.      The sun is a star.

ii.     We looked up at all the stars in the sky.

iii.    He is always on the internet.

3.      Uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that we cannot count. A way to identify these nouns, in most cases, is that they do not add –s in the plural form.

But remember that for every rule there are many exceptions. If you are speaking about any uncountable noun in general, do not use the article. But when speaking about something specific, ‘the’ is used.

For example:

·                 I like bread/milk/honey. (to refer to the uncountable nouns in general)

·                 I like the bread/the milk/the honey. (for specific uncountable nouns that you refer to)

 

4.      Surnames

When speaking about members of the same family collectively, the article ‘the’ is used before the surname. In this way, you designate a group of people –a family – with one word. Remember, the surname must be in the plural form.

For example:

i.       The Smiths are coming for dinner today.

ii.      Have you seen the Johnsons recently?

 

5.      For a particular noun

A common noun can have the article ‘the’ if we want to particularise that noun.

            Example:

I saw a snake. (Refers to a random snake)

I have seen the snake again. (Refers to the snake I have already seen earlier)

Here the article ‘the’ functions as ‘that’.

 

Exercise:

For each sentence, explain why article ‘the’ is used.

1.    I saw the boy stealing.

2.    The earth is moving around the sun.

3.    The English are industrious.

4.    Please return the money I lent you last year.

5.    The Kwans have returned from their holiday.

6.    The moon is shining tonight.

7.    Where is the pen I gave you last year?

8.    The water of the Arctic ocean is freezing.

 

Answers:

1.    To indicate a specific person/noun

2.    Refers to the only one object that exists (the earth; the sun)

3.    A group of people

4.    Specific uncountable noun

5.    To designate a group of people/family

6.    The only one object that exists.

7.    Specific common noun.

8.    Specific uncountable noun + To refer to a body of water.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

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