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The
Definite Article: The
The
is a form of the demonstrative adjective, that.
It is used: -
a)
To
particularize a Common Noun, i.e., to point out or specify a particular thing
or object, for example:
I gave him the blue pencil. Did you see the book?
B)
When a Singular noun stands for a class; as,
The
dog is a faithful animal. The
rose is the sweetest of all flowers. The
camel is the ship of the desert.
C)
As an Adverb with a Comparative; as,
The
poorer the happier. The
longer I live the greater grows my admiration for the Quaid. The higher you go the
better the view.
D)
With Superlative, because the specify singular objects; as,
John is the
cleverest boy in the class. Iqbal was the
greatest poet. He is the
most popular teacher.
E) Before adjective representing a class; as,
The
rich and the poor; the virtuous shall be blessed, the
godless rejoice in a life of sin.
F)
Before Proper nouns when these happen to be the names
of rivers, oceans, mountains, seas, capes, ships, regiments, groups of Islands
(but not single Island), Gulfs, canal, Plaines, desserts, winds, Straits; as,
The
Indus; The Himalayas; The Bay of Bengal; The
Cape of Good Hope; The Revenge; The 31st Punjabis; The
Andamans; The Persian Gulf; The Suez Canal; The
Indo Gangetic Plain; The Sahara; The Trade Winds; The
Trade of Malacca.
Note: The is not used before the
names of single mountains and single Islands; as,
Ceylon,
Madagascar, Java, Mount Everest, Mount Abu.
Also note these: The Argentina, The
Hague, The Shetlands, The Netherlands, The
Savoy, The Crimea, The Balkans, The
Transvaal.
G)
Before a Proper noun descriptive of the places as,
The
Punjab, The Deccan; The Sudan.
H)
Before the names of books; as,
The
Quran; The Bible; The Oxford companion to English Literature; The Dynasts.
But we say: -
Hardy’ s Dynasts, Valmiki’s Ramayana.
The
is also used before the names of newspapers; as,
The
Pakistan Times; The Nation; The Chicago Times
I)
Before a Common noun to give it the meaning of an Abstract noun; as,
The
judge (the spirit of Justice) in him condemned him to death.
She wanted to
hate him but the woman in her dictated another course of action.
J)
With the force of a Superlative; as,
He is the
man (i.e.; he is the best man) for this post.
It is the thing to do (i.e.; it is the
best thing to do)
