The definite article, definition, uses and examples

What is the definite article in English?

The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example: “The dog that bit me ran away.” Here, we’re talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.

Definite article yaani “THE” noun ke pehle istemaal hota hai. Indefinite noun mei hum ne seekha tha ki jab bhi hum kisi nayi baat ko bolna chahte hai aur woh ek cheez ke baare hai toh hum “A” ya “AN” lagate hai. Waise he jab bhi humne us baat ko aage le jaana hai toh wohi cheez ko “THE” Lagakar baat karege.

Jaise: This is a table. The table is big.

A table – ek table. The table – woh table – yaha woh table ki taraf ishara nahi hai balki woh table jiske baare mei maine picchle jumle mei ishara kiya. This is a table. yeh ek table hai. The table is big. Woh table bada hai.

Rules of using the definite article in English

Definite article, the, is used to refer to a particular member of a group or class. It may be something that the speaker has already mentioned or it may be something uniquely specified. ‘The’ is the only definite article in English, for both singular and plural nouns.

When you talk of indefinite article you are not talking of anything specific but in general terms. Indefinite article is also used to introduce common nouns into the conversation.

Already been mentioned

The definite article is used to refer to a noun that has already been mentioned earlier in the conversation or is already known to the listener. For example: You don’t say – The apple at the start, but you say an apple. This is an apple. However, if you want to mention something more about the apple then you will say, the apple. The apple is red. Also, we say the Taj Mahal. This is a monument that is assumed to be widely known. Similarly, the sun. For nouns such as the Taj Mahal and the sun, one need not introduce the in the conversation as a Taj Mahal or a sun since it is assumed the listener knows about these things.

Already been mentioned – jis cheez ke baare mei “THE” se baat karege woh pehle batayi gayi hai.

We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the listener/reader knows exactly what we are referring to:

Also not used in front of proper noun.

Uses of the the definite article

Used before nouns or adjective. Used for the whole group.

Nouns ya adjective ke pehle istemaal hota hai. Ek group ya ek khaas cheez ke liye istemaal hota hai.

Rich people don’t know how poor people live – Paise wale logon ko pata nahi gareeb kaise jeete hai.

Rich people don’t know how the poor live – Paise wale logon ko pata nahi gareeb kaise jeete hai.

Yaha poor people ko the poor kar diya gaya hai. The poor – sabhi gareeb logo ki baat karta hai.

Rich people are insensitive to the poor people’s problems

The rich are insensitive to the poor people’s problems

The cheetah is found in Africa – Cheetah Africa mei paya jaata hai

Cheetahs are found in Africa – Cheetah Africa mei paya jaata hai

The definite article examples

When we know the thing that we are referring to is only one in the world.

The Pope is visiting Russia.

The moon is very bright tonight.

Who is the president of France?

The Taj Mahal is beautiul

Use the definite article with a superlative adjective:

He is the tallest boy in the class.

It is the oldest building in the town.

He is the shortest man on earth.

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