It is clear that when we first refer to a particular person or
thing we normally use the indefinite article, a, and then,
once it has been identified, we continue with the definite article,
the. Compare the following:
- I saw a fox cub at the bottom of the garden
yesterday. The fox cub, which was still only a baby,
was lying in the sunshine under the apple tree.
But what about the bottom of the garden, the sunshine and
the apple tree? I haven't mentioned them before, yet immediately
I use the definite article. I do so because I am referring to a
known context. It is obvious to the person I am speaking to
that I am referring to my own garden and apple tree. It is clear
from the situation which ones I mean. The is used with sunshine
because we are here talking about something that is unique, like
the moon and the stars and the wind and the
Compare also the following:
- I don't want to cook tonight. Do you fancy going out to
- Shall we pop out to the pub for a quick drink before
the lecture starts?
- The first thing we must do when we get to our holiday village
is go to the supermarket.
Clearly, there are many possibilities of restaurant. It could be
an Italian, an Indian, a Thai or a Chinese restaurant,
so a or an is appropriate.
But I have not specified the pub either. It could be one of many,
yet I have used the. I have used the because I am
thinking of a typical pub as a general feature of our environment.
The same applies to supermarket in the next example. I have never
been to this holiday village before, so have no knowledge of which
supermarkets are available, yet I have used the because I
am thinking of a typical supermarket. But in this example, if you
are thinking of one of many, a supermarket would also be
Qualified abstract nouns: the or zero article?
Note that when we are using abstract nouns that are not qualified
or not fully qualified, zero article is normal usage:
- Education in Britain begins when children are
four and a half, normally.
- Formal education in Britain begins when children
are four and a half, usually.
- Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts
- Honesty and truthfulness are always to be
preferred to deceit and lying
As you point out, Michael, abstract nouns are fully qualified when
they are followed by a defining relative clause (introduced
by who/which/that) or by the preposition of + noun phrase.
Under these circumstances, the before the abstract noun is
- The education (that) I received at a bog-standard
comprehensive school was substandard.
- The absolute truth of the matter is that abject
poverty destroys lives.
- Personal happiness is a basic human right.
- The happiness (that) I felt when Maureen became pregnant
Note that happiness is considered to be one of a number of human
rights, so an indefinite article is used with this abstract noun.