[Grammar] use of definite article 'the'

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chandrala

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Can anyone please tell me when excatly we use definite article 'the?':)
 

Gillnetter

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Can anyone please tell me when [STRIKE]excatly [/STRIKE] exactly we use the definite article 'the?':)
One would usually use the article "the" when referring to a specific thing. For example,

"I want the blue car" - of all possible cars, I prefer the blue one.
"The man you want is wearing a tall hat" - again, of all possible men, look for the one with the tall hat.

If you write, "I want a blue car", then any car is acceptable as long as it is blue.
 

Rover_KE

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Welcome to the forums, chandrala:-D.

Note that your excellent thread title has found several Similar Threads below.

Rover
 

Jadoon 84

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Dear chandrala
I am a student like you, I have found the below answer in internet (http://www.english-test.net/lessons/16/index.html) couple of months ago.

Definite — the

Uses

  • Before nouns of which there is only one.
    "The earth is round."
  • Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time.
    "We saw a good film last night. It was the film you recommended."
  • Before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause.
    "The woman dressed in black."
  • Before a noun which, by reason of locality, can represent only one particular thing.
    "There’s a bee in the kitchen."
  • Before superlatives and "first", "second" and "only"
    "The longest river in the world."
  • Before singular nouns used to represent a class of objects.
    "The donkey is a very obstinate animal."
  • Before an adjective used to represent a class of persons.
    "That tax hurts the rich."
  • Before names of seas, rivers, chains of mountains, groups of islands and plural names of countries.
    "the Pacific Ocean, the Thames, the Andes, the West Indies, the Netherlands"
  • Before musical instruments.
    "She plays the piano"

Not Used

  • Before countries, towns, proper names.
    "Charlie lived in Chicago in America"
  • Before abstract nouns.
    "Jealousy can be dangerous."
  • Before parts of the body and articles of clothing — these normally prefer a possessive adjective.
    "Lift your left arm."
    "He removed his hat."
 
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Tdol

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Jadoon, please give references and link to your source.

Also, I would say that this is something of an oversimplification. For example, you can use the definite article before an abstract noun- your example talks about jealousy in general, but it can be specific.
 

emsr2d2

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To state that "the" is not used before parts of the body or articles of clothing is, frankly, nonsense.

The hat looks better on her than it does on me.
I can see that the left arm is broken in four places.
My parents bought me a sweater and a jacket for Christmas. I didn't like the jacket so I returned it to the shop.
The head is the part of the body which needs to be protected the most in a car crash.
 
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