12.1.2 The definite article (THE)
The definite article is generally used before a noun which has a clear reference. This means that it is clear who or what we are talking about because:
- the noun represents a unique thing or person in the context:
The president has resigned. (there is only one president in the country)
The earth is growing warmer and warmer. (there is only one planet Earth) - the noun has been mentioned before:
A man and a woman came in. The man was about 50 years old.
- a phrase or a clause after the noun makes it clear:
Do you know the boy talking to Sally?
This is the book that I told you about last week.
The photo on the left was taken by my father.
The definite article with a whole class
The definite article is used before a noun when it represents a whole class of things:
The computer has made text editing easier.
The polar bear is threatened with extinction.
In less formal styles, the + noun can be replaced by a plural form without an article:
Computers have made text editing easier.
Polar bears are threatened with extinction.
The indefinite article is not possible in this sense as it would refer to one or any member of the class but not the class as a whole:
A polar bear is threatened with extinction.
A computer has made text editing easier.
Man or mankind can be used to represent the human race and has no article:
Man will eventually destroy himself.
However, the more gender-neutral term humankind is preferable to man or mankind:
Humankind will eventually destroy itself.
The definite article with ordinal numbers, superlative adjectives, ONLY, NEXT, LAST, SAME, RIGHT and WRONG
The definite article is used before ordinal numbers and superlative adjectives:
This is the first time I've ridden a horse.
The 20th century has seen the bloodiest wars in the history of humankind.
Jill is the most intelligent girl in the class.
Most has meanings which do not take the definite article the:
That was most kind of you. (very kind)
Most people who lose weight regain it in a very short time. (the majority of people)
The definite article is also used before only, next, last, same, right and wrong + noun:
You are the only person I can tell.
When is the next train to Cambridge?
They have the same surname, but they are not relatives.
What is the right answer?
The definite article with adjectives
The definite article can be used before an adjective to refer to all the people described by it. If the + adjective is followed by a verb, it will take a plural form:
The rich get rich, and the poor stay poor.
Only the brave are free.
Many adjectives that describe a nationality behave in the same way unless they end in -an:
The English are famous for being very polite.
The French eat a lot of cheese.
But:
Canadians play a lot of hockey.
The definite article with geographical names
The definite article is used with certain geographical names:
Countries
Names of countries which are collective, plural or modified by an adjective or an of-construction take the definite article the:
the Czech Republic
the Netherlands
the People's Republic of China
the Philippines
the United Kingdom (UK)
the United States of America (USA)
Bodies of water
the Amazon
the Ganges
the (English) Channel
the Panama Canal
the Atlantic (Ocean)
the Pacific (Ocean)
Deserts
the Gobi (Desert)
the Kalahari Desert
the Mojave Desert
the Patagonian Desert
the Sahara (Desert)
Mountain ranges
the Alps
the Andes
the Appalachians
the Great Dividing Range
the Himalayas
Points of the compass
the North
the South
the East
the West
the South Pole
the North Pole
the south of Italy
the Far East
But:
North America
We were travelling west.
Some constellations and other heavenly bodies
the Big Dipper (AmE) / the Plough (BrE)
the Pleiades
the Cigar Galaxy
the Crab Nebula
But:
Orion
Cassiopeia
The definite article with musical instruments and dances
The definite article is used with musical instruments and dances:
I can't play the piano.
Can you do the foxtrot?
The definite article with names of families
The definite article is used with the plural form of the name of a family to refer to all the members of the family:
The Parkers are coming for dinner tonight.
Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses?
The definite article with names of places and institutions
The definite article is used before a place name if it consists of an adjective followed by a noun:
the National Gallery
the British Isles
the British Council
the Royal Court
The definite article is also used if the name of a place or an institution contains the possessive of-construction:
the University of Chicago
the Leaning Tower of Pisa
the Tower of London
the Cape of Good Hope
the Island of Lesbos
the Isle of Man
the Gulf of Maine
The definite article with titles of books, newspapers etc.
The definite article is only used with titles of books, newspapers etc. if it is part of the title itself:
The Lord of the Rings was written by J. R. R. Tolkien.
Do you ever read The Times?
The definite article with unique objects
The definite article is used before a noun which refers to a specific, unique object:
The moon rises at 7.30 tomorrow.
The earth revolves around the sun.
I'd love to live by the sea.
The captain checked the position of the Northern Star to determine the location of his ship.
Other examples are:
the sky
the equator
the North Pole
the internet
the Matrix
the world
We should bear in mind, however, that there are other suns and moons in the universe, and when we refer to these they might not be considered as unique:
The planet Mars has two moons.
Every solar system has a sun.