What is meaning of The

 The is a definite article, or a word that refers to a specific noun. An indefinite article refers to an unspecified noun. The definite article(The) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. The indefinite article(a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article.

Definite Article (The)

Indefinite Article (a, an)

 The is called a Definite article because it is used for a specific person or thing. It is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns, and Uncountable nouns – when that noun is definite, special, or has been discussed in the past.

Exp:-  Babita bought a sari. The sari was very costly.

            She found a bag. The bag contained a coin.

   Uses of the Definite article ‘The’

 1.  The is used before a predetermined thing or person. In other words, we can say that ‘the’ is used to express the meaning of ‘you know which thing/person’.

Exp:- Open the window. 

2. ‘The’ is also used before a singular countable noun to describe a particular person. 

Exp:- The dog is a faithful animal.

3. The is used to mark a proper noun, a natural phenomenon, ship, building, time, point of the compass, branch of endeavor, or field of study as something well-known or unique.

Exp:- The sun, the past, the west.

4. The is used before the names of parts of the body.

Exp:- The police hit on the head.

5. used before the position of a person.

Exp:- The S.P has come.

6. When a Singular countable noun (common noun) is used in the sense of an abstract noun, then 'the' is used before it. That is, when a noun expresses any quality of feeling, then 'the' is used before it.

Exp:- The judge in him.

          The doctor in him.

7. Used before superlative degree. 

Exp:- Ankita is the most beautiful girl in her family.

8. Used preceding a qualifying adjective or noun in certain names of titles.

Exp:- Willian the conqueror.

9. Used with proper nouns when qualified.

Exp:- written by the young Hardy. 

10. Used preceding present participles and adjectives when they function as nouns. 

Exp:- The singing is awful.

11. Used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is definite or has been previously specified by context or by circumstance.

Exp:- put the cat out.

12. Used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is a unique or a particular member of its class. 

Exp:- The president.  The load. 

 

Definite 

Indef