164

the indefinite and definite article

-

the indefinite and definite article

before the names of rivers, groups of islands, seas, oceans, and

r6s

The definite article

The definite article
is the.

mountain ranges.
TheThames
The Hebrides The Pacific

The definite article is used

with singular and plural nouns. lt

is used

The North

Sea

both with countable nouns and uncountable nouns:

to make definite or specific reference to a person or a thing that has already been referred to.
There'sthe man I wastellingyou about!

before the names of certain public institutions, most newspapers, and some magazines.
The British
The

Thelndependent
The Listener

LyceumTheotre

Museum

to referto a person orthing thatis already specific because of what those talking already know. In the first example below, 'the children' would be members of ourfamily and'the swimming pool'isthe
swimming poolwe normallY go to'
Let's take the chil d ren to the swi mmi Did you switch the heoting on? There were drinks in the fridge
n

The Hilton Hotel The Houses of Parliament TheCuardian The New Scientist

before partsofthe bodywhen theseare referred to in an impersonal way.

A stone struck him on the hand. Martin hit him on the head.

pool'
soon ftnished '

butthe beer wos

to generalize about a whole class or species, usually of plants or animals. A singular noun is used for this purpose. The first example
mea
n

s'The e leph o nt species is hu nted.'

The definite article is rarely used with titles. proper nouns that referto persons, such asSueand Ron, and proper nouns used in conjunction with titles, such as Queen Elizabeth, DoctorThomas, and Captain Parry, onlv take a definite article if:

The etephant is still hunted for ifs tusks. The snowdrop isthe f,rstflower to arrive in the new year'

theystand forthe name of athing such as a boat.

The Queen Elizabeth

ll

is on a

long cruise.

when it is followed by an adjective used as a noun indicating nationality orwhen generalizing about a whole class of people'
The Dutch in the fir,st example means 'Dutch peoplein general'' The Dutch arevery skilful engineers' The poor were crowding the streets of the copitol. The homeless were sheltered in the church

a distinction is being made between people who have identical names. This use can give emphasis to the noun,.
Ah, no.The David Parry | know lives ip Manchester.
I

saw

Pa u I

Kay i n

town thi s mo rni ng. - Not the

pa

ul Kay ?