What is the grammatical use of the word the?

Answer 1

In English syntax, "the" is called the 'definite article'.

In contrast, "a" (or "an" before a noun beginning with a vowel) is called the 'indefinite article'.

Both the definite and indefinite articles are used before a noun (a word which names) to qualify that noun as either a specific noun or a nonspecific noun.



Consider the different meanings of the following two sentences:

i) The child is smiling.

ii) A child is smiling.


The sentence which uses the definite article is sentence i).