Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun • The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... • ...because it has already been mentioned, is to be completely specified in the same sentence, or very shortly thereafter. • ...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge. • Used before a noun designating something considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time. • Used to indicate a certain example of (a noun) which is usually of most concern or most common or familiar. • Used before a body part, a family member, a pet (especially of someone previously mentioned), as an alternative to a possessive pronoun. • Precedes a familiar nickname or other term of address. • Used in many idiomatic expressions and proverbs to refer to common objects, roles, or situations connected with something definite, in the manner of an analogy • When stressed, indicates that it describes something which is considered to be best or exclusively worthy of attention. • When stressed, used before the name of a famous person, to distinguish said person from a hypothetical lesser-known person with the same name. • Used before a noun phrase beginning with superlative or comparative adjective or an ordinal number, indicating that the noun refers to a single item. • Introducing a singular term to be taken generically: preceding a name of something standing for a whole class. • Used with the plural of a surname to indicate the entire family. • Used with an adjective • Added to a superlative or an ordinal number to make it into a substantive. • Used before an adjective, indicating all things (especially persons) described by that adjective. • Used before a demonym ending in -ish or -ese to refer to people of a given country collectively.