Definite Article in English

In English, there are definite article and indefinite article. In this occasion, we will learn more about definite article. The definite article in English is The.

Dalam bahasa inggris, ada definite article dan indefinite article. Pada kesempatan kali ini, kita akan membahas mengenai definite article.

The definite article the is the most frequent word in English. We use the before a noun when we are talking about a certain person or thing. We use the when we believe the hearer/reader knows exactly what we are referring to.

Definite article the adalah kata yang paling sering digunakan dalam bahasa inggris. Kita menggunakan the sebelum kata benda, ketika kita sedang membicarakan tentang sesuatu atau seseorang yang pasti.Kita menggunakan the ketika kita yakin bahwa pendengar/pembaca tahu pasti apa yang kita maksud.

We normally use the definite article with the following reasons:

(Kita biasanya menggunakan definite article dengan alasan – alasan dibawah ini :)

1.      Because there is only one, for example:

(Karena benda itu hanya ada satu, contohnya:)

The moon is very bright tonight.
The front door of my house was knocked last night

2.      Because there is only one in that place or in those surroundings, for example:

(Karena hanya ada satu di tempat itu atau di sekitarnya, contohnya:)

We live in a small village next to the church.  (the church in our village)

Dad, can I borrow the car? (the car that belongs to our family)

3.      Because we have already mentioned it, for example:

(Karena kita sudah menyebutkannya, contohnya: )

A woman who fell 10 metres from High Peak was lifted to safety by a helicopter. The woman fell while climbing. The rescue is the latest in a series of incidents on High Peak. In January last year two men walking on the peak were killed in a fall.

4.      To say something about all the things referred to by a noun, for example:

(Untuk menyatakan segala sesuatu yang berhubungan dengan benda, contohnya:)

The wolf is not really a dangerous animal.
The kangaroo is found only in Australia.
The heart pumps blood around the body.

5.      To talk about musical instruments, for example:

(Untuk membicarakan instrument music, contohnya:)

Joe plays the piano really well.(= George can play any piano)
She is learning the guitar.(= She is learning to play any guitar)

6.      to refer to a system or service, for example:

(Untuk menyatakan suatu system atau service, contohnya:)

How long does it take on the train.
I heard it on the radio.
You should tell the police.

7.    With adjectives like rich, poor, elderly, unemployed to talk about groups of people, for example:

(Dengan kata sifat seperti rich, poor, elderly, unemployed untuk menyatakan kumpulan orang-orang, contohnya:)

Life can be very hard for the poor.
I think the rich should pay more taxes.
She works for a group to help the disabled.

The definite article with names:

(The definite article dengan penamaan)

We do not normally use the definite article with names, but we do use the definite article with:

(Kita biasanya tidak menggunakan definite article dengan nama(penamaan), tetapi kita menggunakan definite article dengan (penamaan berikut ini:)

1.      Countries whose names include words like kingdom, states or republic, for example:

(Negara-negara yang namanya mengandug kata kingdom, states  atau  republic, contohnya)

The United Kingdom; the kingdom of Nepal; the United States; the People’s Republic of China.

2.      Countries which have plural nouns as their names, for example:

(Negara- Negara yang mempunyai bentuk jamak penamaan, contohnya:)

The Netherlands; the Philippines

3.      Geographical features, such as mountain ranges, groups of islands, rivers, seas, oceans and canals, for example:

(Objek-objek Geografi, seperti barisan gunung, kelompok pulau, sungai-sungai, laut-laut, samudera-samudera, dan kanal-kanal/terusan, contohnya:)

The Himalayas; the Canaries; the Atlantic; the Atlantic Ocean; the Amazon; the Panama Canal.

4.      Newspapers, for example (Koran, contohnya):

The Times; The Washington Post

5.      Well known buildings or works of art, for example:

(Bangunan atau karya seni  terkenal, contohnya:)

The Empire State Building; the Taj Mahal; the Mona Lisa; the Sunflowers

6.      Organisations, for example (organisasi, contohnya):

The United Nations; the Seamen’s Union

7.      Hotels, pubs and restaurants*, for example (hotel, pubs, dan restaurants*):

The Ritz; the Ritz Hotel; the King’s Head; the Déjà Vu

*Note: We do not use the definite article if the name of the hotel or restaurant is the name of the owner, e.g.,Brown’s; Brown’s Hotel; Morel’s; Morel’s Restaurant, etc.

(*Catatan: Kita tidak menggunakan definite article jika nama dari hotel atau restaurant itu adalah nama dari pemiliknya, cntohnya Brown’s; Brown’s Hotel; Morel’s; Morel’s Restaurant, etc)

8.      Families, for example (Keluarga, contohnya):

The Obamas; the Jacksons

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