Revision as of 00:41, 13 March 2020

definite article

two pronunciations: ðə before a consonant, and ði before a vowel.

The sound ð is often deictic. That means it points to something in the world (or something that's been pointed out earlier in the course of discussion). (digit - doigt - deixis)

e.g. there, them, they, then, this, that, thus, therefore, these, those, thither, whither, etc.

definite determiner

Another way of saying 'definite article', which I personally find more useful. People use determiners to determine just what exactly they are talking about:

• the cat (definite determiner)
• my cat (possessive determiner)
• a cat (indefinite determiner)

Quantifiers

• not any
• any
• each
• no

Demonstratives

• this
• that
• these
• those

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correlative construction

• The more, the merrier...
• The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
• The greater the risk, the greater the gain.
• The longer you wait, the worse it gets.
• The less said, the better.
• The more we talked, the more I began to understand her point of view.

  "What big eyes you have, grandmother!"

  "The better to see you with, my dear."