inglese - the definite article

inglese - the definite article

The definitive article is the. It is  the same for singular and plural and for all genders :

The boy the boys the girl  the girls

use of the definite article

The definite article is used 

a) before nouns of which there is only one  or which is considered as one :

the earth  the sky the weather 

b) before a noun  which ha 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.

c) before a noun made definite by addition of a phrase or clause

the girl in blue
The boy that I met

d) before noun  which by reason of locality can represent only particular thing

Ann is in the garden (the garden of this house )

e) befor superlatives  and first second  and only used as adjectives o pronouns

Mount Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe.

1)  the + singular noun can  represent a class of animals or things :

The whale is in danger of becoming extinct.

the can however be used before a member of  a certain Group of people

the small shopkeepers are finding life difficult

the + singolar noun  as used above takes a singular verb the pronoun is he  she  it

the firsr-class traveller pays more so  he expects some comfort

2)  the + adjective  represent a class of persons

the old = old people in general

The verb is plural the pronoun is they

the Young are impatient

3)  the is used before certain proper name of sea river groups of islands chains of mountains  plural names of countries desert

The arctic
the Alps
the sahara

the is also  used before  names consisting of noun + of + noun

The cape of Good Hope
The Gulf of Mexico

the is used before name  consisting of adjective + noun 

The giold Coast
The New Forest

the is not used before west  east erc + noun 

Yucatan is in North America

but

I go to the South (noun)

the is used before musical instrument

play the flute

the is used before the names of meals if these are qualified by clause

The dinners Peter used to give were really memorable

OMISSION

the definite article is not used

 1) before name of places except as sgown above o before names of people

the + plural surname can be used to mean family 

the Smiths =  mr and mrs Smith (and children)

the + singular name can be used to distinguish one person from another of the same name

The mr Smith who works in the Post Office.

Note also that althouth  the is not used before title + noun

Capitain Jones was talking

but it is used before title alone

the captain seemed angry

we also use the before title containing of

The Duke of York

Finally it is possible to adress two unmarried sister as The Misses + surname

The misses  Jones

2)  before abstract nouns except when thy are used in a particular sense

men fear Death

but

the Death of the Prime Minister

3) After noun in the possessive case o possesive adjective :

The boy's uncle

it is my blue book = The blue book is mine

 4) Before name of meals

they have porridge for breakfast

but  the wedding breakfast

5) Before parts of the body and articles clothing  at these normally prefer a possessive adjective

Raise your right hand

he took off his coat

but

the john's face

Note that in some languages  the definite article is used before indefinitre  plural noun but that in English the is never used in this way

women ar expected to like housework (women in general)

if we use the before women it would mean that we were referring  to a particular Group of women


nature where it means the spirit creating an motivating the world of plants and animals is used without the

if you interfere with nature you will suffer for it

6)  omission of the before home Church market school hospital etc.

home
When it is used alone  is not preceded or followed by a descriptive word or phrase the is omitted

he went home

but when hom is preceded or followed by a descriptive word or phrase it is treated like any other noun as regards articles and prepositions

we went to the bride's home

chapel Church market college school hospital court prison  work sea bed

these nouns are used without the when they are visited or used for their primary purpose

to school
 to college
to market
to work

when these places are visited for other reasos the article is used

I went to the Church to see the carvings
He comes to the school sometimes to speak to the headmaster

in contrast these nouns take the

cathedral office cinema theatre