In English there are two articles, the indefinite article, 'a/an', and the definite article, 'the'. In effect articles are adjectives because they serve the purpose of helping to define a noun.
The indefinite article (a/an) is generally used to refer to any non-specific noun (a horse, an orange) and the definite article (the) is used to refer to a specific noun (the dog, the banana).
For many people the correct use of the definite article seems natural, but even for those for whom English is not a foreign language, it can be a little confusing at times, and the word 'the' can be misused, or omitted.
For example, should you refer to Lake Eyre or the Lake Eyre? Should you refer to Humber Bridge or the Humber Bridge? If this raises any doubts at all, or even if you feel fairly confident you know which is correct, but aren't really sure why, then read on to learn the simplest way to identify the proper use of the article 'the'.
The simple rule is that the first mention of a noun requires the indefinite article, and all subsequent references to the noun require the definite article, except in the case of shared knowledge, unique objects, and superlative or unique adjectives. Let's break that down a little and see how it works. Firstly, the first time you mention a noun, use the indefinite article (a/an), after which you should then always use the definite article (the) whenever you mention the noun. You'll see this rule demonstrated in this sentence ('a noun', 'the noun'). Here's another example:
"When you write an article it needs to be written correctly. The article should contain excellent grammar and spelling."
But what about the exceptions? There are three exceptions to this rule, and they include shared knowledge, unique objects, and superlative or unique adjectives. Let's look at each exception in turn:
Shared knowledge. This includes any case where the specific noun in question is considered to be known already because of a general understanding or accepted knowledge. For example, in Christchurch there is only one hospital, and so you could say "the hospital", because as there's only one, through general knowledge people will already know which hospital you're referring to.
However, in Hull there are several hospitals, and so you couldn't say "the hospital" because no one would know which one you meant. You'd have to say "Hull Royal Infirmary", after which you could refer to it as "the hospital, since now people know which one you mean.
Unique objects. There is no need to introduce the first mention of a noun with the indefinite article if it is unique. In cases where the noun is unique, the definite article (the) should be used from the first mention. For example, "the sun", "the earth".
Superlative or unique adjectives. This is really a little like the previous rule, where a superlative effectively makes the noun unique. For example, there may be several hospitals in Hull, but only one of them can be the busiest. Therefore, when referring to this one, you can use the definite article (the) to refer to it from the very first time it is mentioned. For example, "the busiest hospital."
Finally there are a few rules relating to geographical nouns. Essentially it all boils down to remembering that you should always use the definite article (the) before places which are unique (as in the second of our exceptions explained above). Such unique examples include the Humber, the Middle East, the South Pole, the New Forest and so on.
However, you should not use the definite article (the) before the names of countries, cities, streets, lakes, mountains or continents. Examples where you would not use the definite article, even though the noun is unique include: England, York, Oxford Street, Lake Windermere, Ben Nevis, Europe.
So going back to the questions at the beginning, should you refer to Lake Eyre or the Lake Eyre? And should you refer to Humber Bridge or the Humber Bridge?
By referring to the rules and exceptions listed above we can see that lakes are one of the nouns where the definite article should not be used, and so we should always refer to Lake Eyre and not the Lake Eyre. Similarly because the Humber Bridge is a unique object the definite article should always be used.
The English language can sometimes feel a little as though it was designed by a committee of people who couldn't agree on anything and spent most of the time trying to trip each other up whilst catching them out and running round in ever decreasing circles whilst backing up against the wall. However, the use of the definite article is a fundamental part of its grammar and syntax, and for article writers, it is essential to tame the beast.
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