Grammar details about ARTICLES 3 by Franco

++THE DEFINITE ARTICLE THE ++

THE BOY
THE BOYS
THE GIRL
THE GIRLS

_THE DEFINITE ARTICLE IS USED: _

Before nouns of which there is only one or is considered as one

• The earth; the sea; the sky; the weather; the North Pole.

Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time

• His car struck a tree; you can still see the mark on the tree

Before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause

• the boy that I met.
• the place where I met him.
• the girl in blue.
• the man on the donkey.

Before a noun which, by a reason of locality, can represent only one particular thing

• Ann is in the garden (the garden of this house).
• He sent for the doctor (his own doctor).
• Please pass the wine (the wine on the table).

**Before _superlatives _ and first/ second and only used as adjectives or pronouns… **

• Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe.
• Most people think that Monday is the worst day of the week.

**Before an adjective used to represent a class of persons: and objects **

• The cuckoo is lazy (all cuckoos are lazy).
• There is no peace for any but the dead.
• The old and the young should be able to live together.

**Before seas of names of seas, rivers, chains of mountains, groups of islands and plural names of countries: **

• The Atlantic Ocean; the Tames; the Alps; the USA; the USSR; the Netherlands.
  Before musical instruments

• She learnt to play the flute.
  With the type of meal mentioned in ARTICLE 2 by Franco

• The dinner given to celebrate their victory cost 2 dollars.

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GO TO ARTICLE 4 TO SEE HOW WE SHOULD NOT USE THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
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GREETINGS FROM ECUADOR
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