The definite article: 'the' (2)

'The' for specifying

   1)       When we use the, the listener or reader knows or can understand what we are referring to.

We can make a reference 'specific' or 'definite' by means of:

- back reference: We stopped at a small village. The village was very pretty.

- the + noun + of: The life of Napoleon was very stormy.

- a clause (= part of a sentence): The Jones I'm referring to is a colleague of mine.

- context: The listener knows exactly what we are referring to from the context.

That's why we say: It's the postman. (Not *a postman*)

She's gone to the butcher's. (Not *a butcher's*)

Running is good for the heart. (Not *a heart*)

   2)       We often say the cinema, the theatre, the supermarket, the bank, etc. even if we don't know exactly which: He's gone to the cinema/the theatre/the supermarket/the bank.

   3)       We refer to the country, the mountains, the seaside even if we don't know exactly where:

We're spending the weekend in the country/in the mountains/at the seaside.

Write: Supply 'a/an, the or '-'

1 We were looking for …a…place to spend…the…night. .................place we found turned out to be in ................. charming village. .................village was called .................Lodsworth.

2 ................. individual has every right to expect personal freedom. ................. freedom of

................. individual is something worth fighting for.

3 Yes, my name is .................Simpson, but I'm not .................Simpson you're looking for.

4 Who's at ................. door? - It's .................postman.

5 When you go out, would you please go to .................supermarket and get some butter.

6 I've got .................appointment this afternoon. I've got to go to ................. doctor's.

7 We went to ................. theatre last night and saw Flames. It's ................. wonderful play.

8 We prefer to spend our holidays in ................. country, ................. mountains or by .................s ea.

9 We have seen what ................. earth looks like from ................. moon.

10 This is the front room. ................. ceiling and .................walls need decorating, but .................

floor is in good order. We'll probably cover it with ................. carpet.

11 You're imagining ................. things. All your fears are in ................. mind.

12 Look at this wonderful small computer. ................. top lifts up to form ................. screen;

.................front lifts off to form .................keyboard and ................. whole thing only weighs 5 kilos.

13 .................history of .................world is ................. history of ................. war.

14 Is there ................. moon round ................. planet Venus?

15 What's ................. John doing these days? - He's working as ................. postman.

16 .................exercise is good for ................. body.

17 Could you pass me ................. salt, please?

18 They're building ................. new supermarket in ................. centre of our town.

19 Where's your mother at ................. moment? - I think she's in ................. kitchen.

20 If you were a cook, you'd have to work in ................. kitchen all day long.