9
Employment and finance
A rtic le s
The definite article (the):
The is used mainly w ith singular nouns:
1
When the liste n e r/re a d e r knows which noun we are talking about, e ith e r because it has been
m entioned before or it is clear which one:
There is a new em ploym ent law on retirem ent
ages. In my opinion, the law is unfair.
I th in k the governm ent needs to renew its
economic policy.
2 When the sp e a ke r/w rite r qualifies a noun w ith inform ation to make it definite:
You know, the m in iste r who was sacked because he was taking bribes.
3 Where there is only one of som ething:
The w orld is suffering from this economic downturn.
U With
'th e ... of ...’ and ‘the ... of a ... ’ (for definite noun phrases)
The rate of inflation is rising.
I noticed the papers of a fellow com m uter on the train.
5 With superlatives, w ith geographical features and w eather, and w ith w ell-defined groups:
He is the hardest w orking
employee in the company.
I couldn't get to w ork
because of the fog.
The bankers have put this
country into a state of crisis.
