Historically the definite Article ( the
) is a demonstrative pronoun. It has 2 functions:
· Individualizing (specifying) –
meaning “this, definite”. For example: Give me the ( this )
book, please
· Generic( meaning “the whole
class of” ). For example: The housewife has an easier life than
the office worker
The Definite Article is used in the
specifying function before nouns whose referents are definite. They are
made definite by:
1. a restrictive/limiting/
attribute or a restrictive attributive clause .For example:…..he
stood at the other end of the room. Where is the book that I
bought this morning?
2. The preceding context. For
example: A large half-wild gray cat was rubbing at Marcie’s leg.
3. The situation of speech. For
example: Mary sprang up and rushed to the door/of the room where
Mary was/.
4. The meaning of the noun. For
example: The sun was dropping to the west
Note
The referents of the nouns sun
and west
are definite because they denote unique objects like moon, sky, world
and other.
