Use of ‘The’
1. When we speak of particular person or thing already referred to
Examples:
I dislike the follow
The boy near the taps is my brother.
2. When a singular noun represents a whole class.
Examples:
The mango is considered the king among fruits.
The ass is used as a beast of burden.
(I) gulfs, rivers, oceans, islands, and mountains
Examples:
The Himalayas, the Indian ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Red sea, the Andaman islands, the Brahmaputra
river.
(ii) Certain books.
Examples:
The Vedas, the Puranas, the bible, the Ramacharitmanas.
(iii) Musical instruments
Examples:
The flute, the violin, the table, the trumpet.
(iv) The Inventions
Examples:
I hate the telephone for its constant ringing.
The television is a gift of science.
(v) Parts of body
Examples:
He was wounded in the leg.
They hit him on the hands.
(vi) Religious groups
Examples:
The Sikhs, the Hindus, the Parsees.
(vii) Names enforcing law
Examples:
The Police, the Navy, the Air Force.
(viii) Political Party
Examples:
The Congress, the Janata Party, the B.J.P.
(ix) Aeroplanes, Ships, train etc.
Examples:
The Makalu (aeroplane), the Vikrant (ship), the Rajdhani express (train)
(x) Before names of an empire, dynasty or historical event.
The Gupta dynasty, the Old Stone Age, the First World War, the American Revolution.
(xi) Clubs, foundations etc.
Examples:
The Lion’s club, the Ford Foundation.
(xii) Before common nouns denoting unique things
Examples:
The sun, the sky, the earth, the world.
(xiii) With Superlatives
Examples:
He is the best boy in the class.
Prizes would be given for the most outstanding performances.
(xiv) With ordinals
Examples:
He took the first taxi that came his way.
He lives in the tenth block.
Our class teacher is on the second floor.
(xv) Before the comparative degree
Examples:
The more they get, the more they want.
He is the cleverer of the two.
(xvi) Before an adjective when the noun is understood.
Examples:
The poor would favor him.
We must not shun the disabled.
Best of Luck