Definite Article - Academic Mode

Definition of a particular article
The particular article "the" in grammar is a determinant that introduces or refers to a particular noun or specifies the noun given. However, an indefinite article is opposed to the definite article because it does not specify anything. "It is tempting when the only tool you have is a hammer, treating everything like it was a nail" (The Psychology of Science: An Enlightenment, by Abraham Maslow). In this sentence the definite article "das" appears before the indefinite noun "tool" and its indication. However, the indefinite article “a” just says that there is a hammer.

Common use of definite article
“Can I go to college?”
“I saw it at school. The boy was crying. "
" The rose has a nice smell. “
She is the brilliant student.
He is the first man to win an Oscar.
In these general examples, all particular articles have been used to specify the following nouns such as "college", "boy", "rose", "brilliant student" and "first man" , ”Each.

Characteristics of the Specific Article
The specific article can be used with different types of nouns to form a variety of meanings.

Singular Countable Noun - Used before a single noun, something that can be counted. The specific article indicates which is For example, “The thief ran away.”
Plural countable noun - It can be used before a plural countable noun if the noun is specific and not general. For example: “Police officers killed three of the robbers. ”
Uncountable Noun - It can be used in front of a noun, which cannot be counted. For example: “The sand is blown by the wind. “Sand cannot be counted, although its individual grains can.
Particular Noun: No definite article is used with a particular noun, such as "Mr. Washington". You simply cannot call yourself "Washington." However, a definite article can be used to introduce Mr. Washington's family group: "The Washingtons live at the end of the street."
Country names: not used with the proper names of countries and cities, with few exceptions. : the United States, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
Names of bodies of water: The names of some bodies of water require definite articles, such as the Mississippi, the Gulf of Mexico and the Indian Ocean, etc. additional exceptions, such as some lakes (eg Lake Michigan), that do not use a definite article.
Examples of Definite Articles in Literature
Example # 1: Charlotte's Web (by E.White)
"He closed the box carefully. First he kissed his father, then he kissed his mother. Then he opened the lid again, lifted the pig and he held it against his cheek. ”

See the underlined word“ the, ”which is a definite article, which specifies the nouns“ cardboard, ”“ lid, ”and“ pig. ”

Example # 2: A tale of two cities (for Charles Dickens)
“In this regard, his natural and unalienated inheritance, the messenger on horseback had exactly the same possessions as the king, the prime minister of state or the richest merchant in London. So with the three passengers locked up in the narrow compass of a heavy old mail car ... "

This passage has used the definite articles to specify the nouns" messenger, "" king, "" minister, "" merchant, "and" accountant passengers. " a place, the definite article specifies the noun j Along with the superlative adjective "richer."

Example # 3: Definite Article (by Eddie Izzard)
“Horseshoes are lucky. Horses have four pieces of luck nailed to their feet. They should be the luckiest animals in the world. They should rule the country. ”

In these lines, the definite article appears before the superlative adjective“ more fortunate ”and before the noun“ country ”to specify it.

Example # 4: The Old Man and the Sea (by Earnest Hemingway)
"In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days without a fish, the boy's parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salted ... That made the child It is sad to see the old man come in every day ... "

In this short paragraph, Hemingway has used definite articles before ordinal numbers," first forty days "and then before of the nouns “old man” and “child.”

Function of Definite Article
The main function of a definite article is to emphasize the noun that is placed before. It specifies a noun that could be an object, a person, a place or a thing It comes before a noun or a noun phrase, and also before a superlative adjective, to indicate the noun. The aforementioned has already been indicated or redefined, that is, it clarifies the meaning of a noun. It helps the reader understand the noun and its function in the sentence.