Use of Definite Article- The-Important Rules
1. before a particular person or thing or known to the speaker.
- The book you want is not available.
2. Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time.
- My car struck with a tree, you can still see the mark on the tree.
3. before a noun which become definite by the addition of a clause or phrase.
- The girl in white dress in doctor.
- The is the boy whom you wanted to see.
4. When a singular noun is intended to represent a whole class.
- The dog is a faithful animal.
- The cat likes milk.
5. ‘The’ is used with the names of renowned building, guilt, river, sea etc.
6. ‘The’ is placed only before the plural name of islands and the mountain ranges, plural name of countries. Exp- The Bahamas, The Himalayas.
7. ‘The’ is also used before names consisting of noun + of + noun. Exp. The Cape of Good Hope.
8. ‘The’ is used before the adjectives east/ west etc. + noun in certain name. Exp. The East / West End, The North/ South Pole.
9. The is also used before the name of directions. Exp. The East, The west, The North.
10. before the name of important and renowned books. Exp- The kuran, The Ramayana.
11. before such common noun that are names of things unique of their kind.
Declaration- Read each sentence in find out whether there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence, the number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5).
1. Ramesh told me (1) / that he first went (2) / to the Mexico and (3) / then to the Netherlands. (4) / No Error (5)
Ans- (3) delete ‘the’ before Mexico.
2. In the conclusion it (1) / may be said (2) / that the writer had surpassed (3) / the ethical norms. (4) / no Error (5)
Ans. (1) Delete ‘the’ before conclusion in conclusions is a phrase.
3. Times of India (1) / is a popular (2) / newspaper (3) / of these days. (4) / No Error (5)
Ans- (1) The ‘Times of India’. …. ‘ The is used before the name of the newspaper.
4. The winter (1) / are (2) / generally very (3) / cold here (4) / No Error (5)
Ans- Remove ‘The’ before ‘winters’. Do not use article before name of the seasons.
5. Chif Minister (1) / will (2) decide (3) / the matter soon (4) / No Error (5)
Ans- insert ‘the’ before Chief Minister. Use before designation.